The MP for Tongatapu 2 Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Pingi Fasi has raised alarming claims about evidence of dishonesty within government ministries.
In Tongan he said “ko e ngaahi fakamo’oni ko ia’ ‘oku fu’u fakailifia ‘aupito ia ‘i he’eku sio ki ai ‘i he fehū’aki holo ‘a e ngaahi me’a ta’efaitotonu ‘i he loto’i potungāue”.
In English, he said: “Those evidence are quite alarming in the way I look at it and how dishonesty pervades the ministries”.
MP Fasi mentioned the Ministry of Education in particular.
The former head of the Ministry’s Examination Unit commented during an interview with a US-based Tongan podcaster.
It comes in the wake of the new government’s vow to review all ministries as part of its to-do list within its first month in office.
As Kaniva News reported this week, Dr Fasi has been provisionally nominated as the Minister for Education, according to a leaked preliminary document.
MP Fasi used the Tongan proverb “Matamata Lelei Fakafa’itoka”, which literally translates to “beautiful like a cemetery,” to articulate the troubling circumstances. However, he did not provide further details about the dishonesty claims.
The proverb figuratively means something may appear attractive or pleasant on the exterior but hide a darker reality inside.
MP Fasi claimed that the ongoing development of new infrastructure at the Ministry has attracted a sense of intrigue and appreciation among the public.
However, he pointed out a significant concern regarding the state of affairs within the classrooms.
Despite the investment in modern facilities, he alleged that the learning environment has become chaotic, with issues such as inadequate resources, lack of organization, and ineffective classroom management disrupting the educational experience for students.
He is worried that the gap in educational outcomes raises important questions about the balance between improving school facilities and the quality of teaching and learning.
MP Fasi said that Tongan education has achieved great results in the past, which has made it outstanding in the Pacific. He feared that past successes would be at risk without equal attention to school improvements and effective teaching.
The Ministry of Education could not be reached for comment.
The former Minister of Education Hon Hu’akavameiliku responded to accusations made against him in Parliament about complaints about his leadership. He claimed that his government operated within the framework of the constitution.
He challenged the Opposition to pursue legal action against him if they had any evidence of wrongdoing.
