23rd March, 2018 TONGAN The Prime Minister, Hon Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, today stated that the letter from the Ministry of Education and Training to Tonga High School purporting to ban girls from participating in rugby and boxing is not Tongan Government policy.
The Hon Prime Minister said, “Sports is good for the health and the wellbeing of the people and this Government, like previous governments, actively encourages the participation of every Tongan student in all sports without discrimination”.
The Hon Prime Minister also said, “It is the Government’s responsibility to provide opportunities for all the students to participate in all sports. It is however for the individual students and their parents to decide whether or not they should participate in a particular sport like rugby and boxing”.
-ENDS-
Issued by the: The Prime Minister’s Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tel: (676) 24 644 Fax: (676)23 888; For media enquiries- Email:pressoffice@pmo.gov.to Website: www.pmo.gov.to