New Minister of Internal Affairs visits Skills and Employment for Tongans Project Featured
New Minister Hon. Vatau Hui with staff of MIA
18 October 2019. Staff of the World Bank-funded Skills and Employment for Tongans Project, were delighted that the new Minister of Internal Affairs had time for morning devotion with the team, in his inaugural visit to Internal Affairs portfolio divisions housed in Tungi Colonnade, Thursday morning, 17 October 2019.
Honorable Vatau Hui said, “I am pleased to meet the SET Project team staff here in the MIA’s Social Protection Division and to see that the Project is well set up.
I wish the team all the best with the delivery of important national outcomes that will assist poor families, combat the high number of high school dropouts and create better employment opportunities for Tongans.”
The SET Project Team Leader, Ms. Lilieta Takau said, “I am happy to welcome the Hon Minister to our SET Project Office. His visit is an indication of the leadership of the Government’s support for the SET Project.
The overall aim of the SET Project is to improve opportunities for secondary school progression and facilitate the transition to jobs in the domestic and overseas labor markets for Tongans.
We are particularly targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Hui, who is the people’s representative of the Niua islands, is no stranger to the hardship and vulnerability faced by families in the remote outer islands.
“We are doing our best to assist the government with delivering the first tranche of secondary school fees and selected tertiary education provider payments for students from the poorest families in Tonga for the first term of next year, “ said Lilieta Takau, SET Team Leader.
The SET project is implemented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Training. Although the project has had a slow start this year, the pace is now picking up with the recent recruitment of the new Team Leader in September.
“SET Project support will enable students from economically disadvantaged families to complete secondary education and set them on a pathway to achieving better employment opportunities.”
“SET Project is also creating employment opportunities within MIA, by recruiting 8 new staff to work on the implementation of the CCT Program in the Social Protection Division, also another 4 staff for the Overseas Employment Division.”
SET Project support to MIA this month included the hiring of new staff, a new Project vehicle and a project .
The total funding assistance provided by the World Bank’s SET Project to MIA is USD8.3million for the 5 year period of 2018 – 2023.
Hon Hui was accompanied by MIA Deputy Chief Executive Officers, Lu’isa Manuefotoa and ‘Onetoto ‘Anisi.
