Commissioning of new classrooms for Mo’unga’olive College ^Featured

The new building has three classrooms and a store room, which costs TOP770,535.41 with a total area of 150m2 and can accommodate 75 – 90 students.

This construction is under the Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) project led by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) and co-funded by the World Bank and the Australian Government.

The PREP project includes the retrofitting/repairing and reconstructing of school buildings which were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita that hit Tonga and ‘Eua in February 2018. There are 25 schools in the project; building 33 new buildings and repairing 10. It is a total of more than 110 classrooms in Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Vava’u and cost approximately TOP$28 million.

Rev. Sitīveni Palu warmly welcomed the guests and thanked everyone for their presence to celebrate the remarkable assistance received by Mo’unga ‘Olive College. He believed that the Holy Spirit would lead the day’s program in appreciating God’s gift through the Government of Australia and the World Bank.

Rev. Dr. Mele’ana Puloka blessed the new classrooms, praising the collaborative effort of the working partners. She added that it was a celebration of the completion of new classrooms and building of the nation by developing education on the Rock, to be resilient on Jesus Christ as the foundation. She adviced that if we do not teach our children based on Christ’s truth, there will be no hope for their future.

Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu reported that, “Mo’unga ‘Olive College’s new building, has 3 classrooms and a store room. The area of each classroom is about 50 square meters, which is a total of 150 square meters. Each classroom can accommodate 25 – 30 students, which is a total of 75 – 90 students for the 3 classrooms. The value of this construction is seven hundred and seventy thousand, five hundred and thirty-five pa’anga and forty-one sēniti (TOP$ 770,535.41).”

Mrs. Natalia Palu Latu said that due to the damages to the school buildings caused by  Cyclone Gita in 2018, the World Bank and the Government decided to step in and lend a hand. She was delighted to celebrate together with the students of Mo’unga ‘Olive College the completion of their new classrooms. She acknowledged the importance of celebrating the World Teachers’ Day by saying, “We also want to take this opportunity to recognise and thank our beloved hardworking teachers who have paved the way for so many young minds who have shaped and molded Tonga and will continue to do so in the future.”

Lord Nuku thanked God for his guidance and blessings that have enabled the completion of the new classrooms for Mo’unga ‘Olive College. He expressed his deep gratitude for the financial assistance by the World Bank and the Government of Australia. He was also grateful for the support by the Free Weslyan Church and the participating partners, and is hopeful for a brighter future for the College through a continuous collective effort.

The School Principal, Rev. Sitīveni Palu welcomed the guests. The President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Schools, Rev. Dr. Mele’ana Puloka blessed the new classrooms. The World Bank representative in Tonga, Mrs. Natalia Palu Lātū, delivered a speech representing the development partners. The Director for Tonga Meteorology Services and PMU Project Manager, Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu presented the Project Overview. Lord Nuku delivered the Keynote Address. Rev. Dr. Mele’ana Puloka delivered the Vote of thanks.

The Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Adrian Morrison; Chief Excecutive Officer for the Ministry of Education and Training, Dr. Tangikina Moimoi Skeen;  Mr. Matani Puloka, a representative of the Puloka Construction; Paula Kava and Cardno representatives; Senior Education Officers; Project Management Unit representatives; members of the clergy; town officer; principal, parents, teachers, and students of Mo’unga ‘Olive College were also present to witness this prestigous event.

The designing and supervision of the construction was done by Cardno, an Australian Company, and the construction was done by a local contractor, the Puloka Construction.