Government presents $3.4 million Pa’anga grant to non-government schools Featured
25 May, 2018. Following Cyclone Gita in February 2018, the damage assessment found that approximately 75 percent of Primary schools, 88 percent of Secondary schools and 56 percent of Tertiary Institutes across Tongatapu and ‘Eua were directly affected.
A total of 109 out of 150 schools with an estimated 23, 000 students at all levels of education were affected.
Government has finalized the phased strategy to cater for immediate and long-term approach to school repair, retrofitting and reconstruction that enables both Government and Non-Government operated schools to return to normal operation as soon as possible.
They include:
Completed planning, design and sourcing financing for the TC Gita education reconstruction program totaling to approximately $35.0 million Pa’anga; and
Government committed $4.7 million Pa’anga to the program comprising:
i) $1.3 million Pa’anga for the Government schools repair through MET currently underway;
ii) $3.4 million Pa’anga as a relief grant for the purpose of minor repairs and works for school facilities and water and sanitation.
This will also cover for reimbursement needs for schools that have undertaken minor repair works.
Government requested the World Bank support with approximately TOP$30.0 million to fund reconstruction and upgrading the remaining damaged school building stock to make it more resilient to natural hazards and made to minimize future impacts on students’ education including ensuring long-term resilience for future disasters, tsunamis, special needs (inclusiveness) and less cost for future reconstruction.
The Government acknowledges and wishes to extend their sincere appreciation of the work that has been progressed in the recovery efforts of schools, including the World Bank. This ensures that students learning are not disrupted in the academic year.
-MOFNP
3 comments
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Sione ! thanks for your comment . What i meant was , with the aid monies flooding the kingdom , to help rebuild peoples lives , wouldn't it be possible to hand out building material which has been donated for hurricane relief purposes to those who have torn roofs , and them still living in tents , and bring in army engineers to begin constructing new houses so as to get people out from the weather Yes ! as you say , patch up the existing houses roof , so its habitable . The house is already weaken the next hurricane comes around the house collapses but the roof stays intact . Wouldn't it make more sense to rebuilt the house and make it stronger than before ? Having worked in hurricane relief reconstruction programmes in the past its usually the old houses and the the "FALE TONGA" that are mostly blown down , anyway without getting technical , the houses the " fale a'fa " could be build with materials that would make it strong enough to withstand strong winds ,"build once but build it right" . it can be done it has been done and it does not cost the earth . The government must release the timber and all building material kept in its warehouses so building can start. plus all aids comes through the government .
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YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING, BERTIE...Are you really asking government to require the semi-poverty people of Tonga to build expensive homes only? Isn't it the price of living in Paradise?
Even Australian and New Zealand homes have been devastated by natural disasters. We had to rebuild and replaced our old house roof from Cyclone Gita. But to rebuild with the type of government standards you're proposing are nuts. First priority is to get a roof over your head. Then slowly improve the home to be weather proof.
Don't ask government to come interfering in our business at home. They're the last ones to help, but life requires food, shelter, education, etc., in that order. -
Reconstruction after destructions caused by the force of nature is a common occurrence . Since the' a'fa' lahi ' or the' great hurricane' of 1961 to the latest tropical hurricane ' Gita ' 2018 the same story all over again , rebuilding .
Infrastructural reconstruction movies into operational mode soon as its safe to start recovery work . Priority , Hospital , Government buildings , schools , then the private sector . How many times has Tonga been devastated by hurricanes between 1961--- 2018 ? surely , someone would've thought by now to ensure that all buildings be constructed to specification , which makes all buildings hurricane resistant . The country's leadership should be looking for any new advancement to building in hurricane prone areas . The buildings may not all withstand the fury of nature , but the damage will not be as extensive as it would've been , had the buildings not build accordingly . Government should be seeking expert advice on how to build houses to withstand strong winds .