Nuku’alofa, Tonga—The Tongan government has sternly warned church-run schools that it will stop paying school grants unless they provide proper accountability for how the funds were spent.
The warning highlights recurring issues, including halted foreign grants, ongoing court cases against school operators, and previous suspensions of funding due to similar failures.
Prime Minister Eke expressed frustration over the lack of financial reporting, calling it a “big issue” for the government.
The Prime Minister revealed that school directors had blamed their inability to submit reports on principals’ failure to cooperate, with some citing teachers’ being on holiday as a reason for the delay.
This comes after the Ministry of Education and Training previously withheld funding for non-government high schools for over three years starting in 2021, following findings that some grants were not used in line with the funding program’s objectives.
The issue has resurfaced amid an ongoing court case involving alleged misuse of government education funds. The case involves former MPs and Cabinet Ministers Akosita Lavulavu and her husband, Etuate Lavulavu, who were charged after a 2016 audit of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute uncovered financial irregularities.
The government previously emphasised that transparency is non-negotiable, and schools must comply with financial reporting requirements to continue receiving state support. Failure to do so, officials warn, could result in permanent funding cuts.
Education advocates have raised concerns over the potential impact on students, urging both the government and school administrations to resolve the matter swiftly to avoid disruptions in learning.
As Kaniva News reported previously, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade contributed NZ$4,458,606 through the TESPII scheme, via a grant to the Government of Tonga, from 2013 to 2016.
“A proportion of this funding went to school grants, which included assistance to non-government schools,” a spokesperson told Te Waha Nui.
These funds were managed by Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training under terms set out in the Grant Funding Arrangement.
New Zealand’s current education support to Tonga is focused on numeracy and literacy outcomes for students, as well as education policy.
New Zealand has a record of putting a stop to its aid funding to Tonga when controversies arise.
In 2013 New Zealand’s foreign minister said he would withhold tourism funding to Tonga until a plane gifted by China was certified by a respected international authority, despite China insisting it was safe.
