Two major changes in key positions at Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training (MET) have been announced today.
It was made public that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva who is also the minister of MET has appointed Ponapate Taunisila as Acting CEO of the Ministry effective from March 30.
Claude Tupou who held the position since February 16 was reverted to his previous position as Deputy CEO for Secondary Schools.
The announcement meant the position of CEO is still vacant after the former CEO Emily Moala Pouvalu’s contract ended in May 2015.
The post was then took over by three different Acting CEOs, two in 2015 who were Dr Raelyn ʻĒsau and Lucy Moala Mafi before Tupou was appointed last month.
In a statement from MET this afternoon the Deputy Chief Executive Officer Lucy Moala Mafi said:
“This is to inform you that Mr. Ponepate Taunisila, Deputy CEO for Quality Assurance has been appointed by the Hon. Minister for Education and Training to be the Acting CEO for Education and Training with effect from Wednesday, 30 March, 2016 until further notice. Mr. Claude Tupou reverts to his position of Deputy CEO for Secondary Schools with effect from the same date”.
Last month a Tongan tribunal ruled in favour of Mr. Tupou after he took action against the Prime Minister and his government for not endorsing a panel’s recommendation to appoint him as the CEO of MET.
Following the tribunal’s ruling we were informed Tupou was appointed by the Minister as acting CEO.
