12th August 2019 The Government of Japan and Takuilau College celebrated the completion of their new technical and vocational classroom building funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects, on Thursday, 8 August 2019. His Excellency Mr. Tetsuya Ishii, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan handed over the completed building in a handover ceremony attended by HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili and Princess Marcella.
The handover ceremony was also attended by Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Minister for Finance and Peoples Representative for Tongatapu 10, Hon. Penisimani Fifita, Minister for Education and Training, Vicar General Monsignor Lutoviko Finau of the Catholic Church, Mr. Soane Vahe, Director of the Catholic Church Education, Mr. Sitani Paulo, Principal of Takuilau College, Parents and Teachers and the students of Takuilau College.
His Excellency Tetsuya Ishii congratulated the completion of the new classroom building and emphasized that Japan has always placed education and technical training very highly on its list of priorities, as it is key for further developing a country as a whole. “I am happy that we are able to take part in enhancing the quality of learning for your technical department,” stated the Ambassador. He emphasized that it is significant to focus on the importance of vocational training and also acknowledged the efforts by Mr. Sitani Paulo and Takuilau College to widen the students’ future options and opportunities, and wished that the building would benefit also the many generations to come.
In the project briefing Hon. Pohiva Tu’ionetoa, Minister for Finance, expressed that Japan’s assistance had been contributing to one of the primary organizational outcomes of the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025, which is to improve education and training to encourage life-long learning of both academic and vocational knowledge by all people.
Mr. Soane Vahe, Director of the Catholic Church Education acknowledged with gratitude the assistance from the people and Government of Japan. Takuilau College sought for Japan’s assistance and was granted USD$84,331 for the construction of a new TVET classroom building. The new TVET classroom will be used for carpentry, plumbing, electrical and automotive classes.
Japan’s GGP scheme was introduced in 1990 to respond directly to the basic human needs at the grass-roots level. Over 280 projects have been completed and handed over to date in the Kingdom of Tonga.
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Issued by the Embassy of Japan Tonga