10th August, 2017 The Soroban Competition for Vava’u Schools was held on Thursday, 3 August 2017 at the Maama Mo’onia Hall of Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu College, in Neiafu. The overall competition was won by Neiafu Government Primary School.
Ms. Mele Loloahi Moimoi, Director of the Free Wesleyan Church Schools in Vava’u was the guest of honour at the competition whereby 307 soroban students from 22 Primary schools in Vava’u competed each other in three judging categories: written examination, oral examination, and flash examination. The Neiafu Government Primary School won the overall competition, Liviela Government Primary School came second and Ngāunoho Primary School came third.
Students that top the written examination in classes 3 and 4 will be brought to Nuku’alofa to represent Vava’u in the National Soroban Competition, next year in March. Siueti Longani from the Neiafu Government Primary School won the class 3 written examination and Sulia Hu’ahulu from Liviela won the written examination for class 4, while Kesaia Kale won the class 5 written examination category.
Soroban education was introduced to the Kingdom in the 1970’s, and has been proven by Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training to have strengthened the mathematical skills of primary students. The Embassy of Japan in Nuku‘alofa and the Ministry of Education and Training have co-hosted the Soroban Competition since 2010. Young soroban students from Tonga who won the written category in previous National Competition have been invited to join a soroban summer camp in Japan, hosted by Japan International Soroban Diffusion Foundation.
The 2017 Soroban Competition began with the competition for Ha’apai Islands in July, before the competition in Vava’u last week. The three districts of Tongatapu will have their competitions on the 15, 17 and 24 of August, and the soroban student in ‘Eua will have their competition in September. The Soroban Competitions is supported annually by the Tonga Soroban Education Association, JICA Tonga Office, and Japan International Soroban Diffusion Foundation.
Attached: Result & Photos
2017 Soroban Competition in Vava’u
- Participating Schools:
GPS Feletoa, Ha‘alaufuli, Holonga, Houma, Koloa, Leimatu‘a, Liviela, Longomapu, Makave, Neiafu, Ngā‘unoho, Pangimotu, Taoa, Tefisi, Toula, Tu‘anekivale, Tu’anuku, ‘Uteli, ‘Utungake, Matamaka, Ofu and the Vava’u Side’s School. - Total # of Participants – 307
Class 3 – 109 students
Class 4- 99 students
Class 5 – 99 students - Result:
ENDS
For further enquires please contact: Ms. Yoko Tochihara, Administration Officer Embassy of Japan in Tonga. Level 5, National Reserve Bank of Tonga Building / Telephone: 22-221 / Fax 27-025