09th March, 2022 TONGAN Government has confirmed that there will be no national examination for Form 5 students in Tonga from this year, with the Honourable Prime Minister urging parents to focus on assisting their children during the home schooling radio and television programs currently being done.
The Hon. Hu’akavameiliku confirmed this at his weekly press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ conference room at the St George Building in Nuku’alofa today.
Government wants the focus to shift to Form 6 and Form 7 national examinations, with the current COVID-19 lockdown restricting face to face schooling and international minimum educational requirements being major factors leading to the change.
The Ministry of Education had discussions with all stakeholders including Church schools, on the issue before government decided to discontinue the Form 5 National Examination.
The Hon. Hu’akavameiliku also confirmed that there will be no opening of schools as yet, as COVID-19 positive case numbers continue to rise.
Health update
Government confirms that it has signed a $2.2 million agreement with the Asia Development Bank as COVID-19 funding.
The country’s accumulative figures since the first case was reported late last year stands at 1,220 with 854 actives cases and 366 recoveries and discharged cases.
Vaccination rates currently stands at 97% for the first dose, 89% for the second and 40% for Booster shots.
The Minister for Health, Hon Dr. Saia Piukala confirmed that Pfizer vaccines and booster shots have been taken to ‘Eua this week.
A Health Team will also travel to Nomuka, Fonoifua and Tungua where close to 500 people are needing Booster doses.
Around 55,000 doses of Pfizer from Australia will arrive in the country next Monday, while new PCR Testing equipment have arrived from New Zealand.
Hon Dr. Piukala confirmed that government does not have a set number of positive cases before the country is returned to Red Light during the current lockdown, stating there are other factors that are taken into account apart from the active cases reported.
He also confirmed that Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) should be done wisely and only used if there is suspect of contacts or places where there is more chance of face to face interactions with members of the public which could be deemed as high risk.
Repatriation flights
Two new repatriation flights arrived in the country on Tuesday, with 143 passengers from New Zealand and 60 from Australia.
The passengers are now being quarantined at the Tanoa Dateline International Hotel and approved home quarantine sites.
Passengers from Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu will arrive on Thursday (March 10) and they will be quarantined at the Kupesi Hotel in Fu’amotu and approved home quarantine sites.
Repatriation flights are also planned for March 30 and April 20.
Assistance
Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Poasi Tei confirmed that the New Zealand government has agreed to assist Tonga with 400 bathrooms and 1,500 water tanks.
He also confirmed that following the National Emergency Management Committee meeting today, government plans to allow passengers from Tongatapu to return to ‘Eua and Ha’apai next Wednesday.
Passengers intending to travel will need to contact the Ministry of Health and have home quarantine for five days before travelling and after arriving at their destination.
Finance
The Minister for Finance and National Planning, Hon. Tatafu Moeaki said women can access Government assistance for women’s groups through a low interest rate Loan Scheme.
This can be accessed at the Ministry or constituency offices.
Issued by: The Prime Minister’s Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tel: (676) 7401351 Fax: (676) 23 888; For media enquiries- Email: pressroom@pmo.gov.to Website: www.pmo.gov.to