Radio & TV Tonga, Nuku’alofa, 15/10/2020

The students and teachers of Tonga College ‘Atele this afternoon were delighted with the completion of the construction of their new classrooms which were damaged from cyclone Gita.

It is among first schools in five groups of the recovery construction from cyclone Gita.

The Education Minister – Siaosi Sovaleni says, he is honoured to mark today’s occasion for the school since the damage in 2018 when Gita made landfall.

“These classrooms are safer and will contribute to providing a safe learning environment for you our children. A positive environment that our children look forward to come to every morning. A safer environment that reduces anxiety, a learning environment conducive for our children to explore, learn and grow. Students, all that we ask is that you stay in school. Learn as much as you can. Build long-lasting friendship and get yourselves prepared to face whatever challenges life throws at you.”

Meanwhile, the CEO of MEIDECC – Paula Ma’u talked about the new classrooms which were built under the PREP program of the Ministry of MEIDECC.

“The construction includes school buildings that were damaged by Cyclone Gita co-funded by the World Bank also the Australian government which are better, stronger, durable and more resilient to adverse natural disasters like cyclones and earthquakes. There are 25 schools in this program; 21 in Tongatapu, two in ‘Eua, two in Vava’u. The value of this construction is approximately $13million US dollars.”

The project for these renovations for Tonga College is worth over 1million pa’anga.

© Radio and Television Tonga News