Tongan school dropouts have chance to study at MIT, PM Pōhiva says

Tonga’s Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva said the school dropouts in Tonga can have a chance to study courses provided by the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

Hon Pōhiva made the comment during a visit to the Institute’s Pasifika Community Centre last week as part of his first official visit to New Zealand.

He was welcomed to the centre by Peter Quigg,  Acting CEO, Dr Stuart Middleton, MIT Director of External Affairs, ‘Iani Nemani, Co-Chair Pacific Community Advisory Board, and Senior Lecturers, ‘Ikani Fifita and Anna Cullen. Other faculty members and some of the Pasifika staff and students also joined the celebration.

After the opening prayer and other formalities, the Hon. Prime Minister along with his delegation had a tour of the MIT Pasifika Centre. This was followed by an informal discussion relating to Pasifika and Tongan students at MIT, and MIT’s on-going activity in Tonga.

The Hon. Prime Minister was accompanied by Hon. Tevita Lavemaau, Minister for Revenue and Customs, Hon. Poase Tei, Minister of Public Enterprises, Lord Vaea, Member of Parliament and Nobles Representative, a delegation of Tongan Government officials, and Sarah Walsh, New Zealand  High Commissioner to Tonga.

MIT

“At MIT, we have a strong commitment to Pasifika and to enabling Pasifika to succeed as Pasifika,” says Dr Middleton, “Building the MIT Pasifika Community in Otara is an integral part of this strategy.”

MIT has recently developed a partnership with support from the Tonga Institute of
Science of Technology (TIST), and the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide trades training in Tonga.  Monte Payne, Senior Lecturer and Tongan Technical Advisor is working very close with Dr Middleton and TIST said “The trades training is running very well in Tonga and this is a great opportunity for Tongan students and the Tongan communities, “Parents are showing great interests and understanding of the benefits for their children in joining the programme”.

“Over the past three years, we’ve implemented a programme to train young people in Tonga in vocational and technical trades. It’s been a very effective, for the individuals and for the wider community,” says Dr Middleton.

In 2015, more than 200 fifteen year old students in Tonga graduated through the partnership.

About The Author

Sometimes when a business is growing, it needs a little help.

Right now Kaniva News provides a free, politically independent, bilingual news service for readers around the world that is absolutely unique. We are the largest New Zealand-based Tongan news service, and our stories reach Tongans  wherever they are round the world. But as we grow, there are increased demands on Kaniva News for translation into Tongan on our social media accounts and for the costs associated with expansion. We believe it is important for Tongans to have their own voice and for Tongans to preserve their language, customs and heritage. That is something to which we are strongly committed. That’s why we are asking you to consider sponsoring our work and helping to preserve a uniquely Tongan point of view for our readers and listeners.

spot_imgspot_imgspot_imgspot_img

Latest news

Related news