Whither Goes

Tonga?

Effect of Education on Younger Generation

(Contributed.) THERE is a very complicated matter of education in Tonga to be settled be fore long in its two main aspects— first, that of the financial burden it en tails, and secondly, its effect upon the rising generation of Tongans; that is, whether it is beneficial or otherwise.

Respecting the financial aspect, there is the annual vote for education in the Government’s budget, usually running to about £6,000, providing primary and sec ondary education for those attending the Government schools. In addition, there are denominational schools charging fees for tuition, the aggregate cost of which might be put at another £6,000. Then there is the actual equipment of the child for school (clothing, bedding, books, etc.) on a better scale than if he or she were at home, the cost of which in toto might be £B,OOO. That is approximately £20,000 which directly and indirectly comes out of the total wealth produced in Tonga, given as £58,591 for the year 1936. An extortionate proportion!

On all sides it is claimed that the Tongan people are deteriorating morally; they are not what they were, even one generation ago. After having passed through this educational mill, the boys show a marked reluctance to work on the cultivation of their 8k acres; they want either a job in the Government (stout fel lows!) or in a store, which together ab sorb one per cent, of the yearly output.

After having solved most of the myster ies of algebra, trigonometry, and many other subjects only remotely connected with, the hard graft of working on the land, they do not take kindly to the bush, which is for 99 per cent, of them the only means of a respectable if meagre livelihood. What little control their parents ever had over them is complete ly gone, their behaviour in general is cheeky and flippant, and in the public roads and such places they have a mark ed tendency to “show off”.

A growing proportion of these young Tongans become useless larrikins, and others develop a most offensive arrogance.

Many of them become thoroughly lazy and some are criminals. Hardly a month goes by without a store being broken into and robbed, and the police court reflects a sad condition of moral depravity.

As for the girls, the outlook for 99 per celnt. of them is to marry one of their countryman and look after the domestic side of the 81 acres. But, in their own estimation, their education has fitted them for something more exalted than that, and about one per cent, find em ployment as nurses, telephone operators, sales-women in stores, etc. The rest hope in vain for matrimony with a mytho logical Duke of Windsor.

What is to be done? The British Gov emment gets only the Consular reports of its representative, which hitherto have been of the white-washing variety, in order to imply “Everything’s all right.

Im here”. If it knows the truth, it has done nothing.

There is no use in leaving these peo ple to be exploited by a handful of career-men. on the excuse that it is an independent Government. Where is all this justice and fair play, liberty, and all the rest of it, to which front-benchers in the House of Commons are never tired of giving expression? Do they know the conditions? They should know them. The size of the kingdom does not exonerate them; the principle is the same.

Is there anything outrageous in an 1m

partial Commission being appointed to enquire thoroughly into the economic conditions obtaining in the Kingdom; to find out what the actual wealth produc ed really is, and where it goes; and some endeavour made to prevent the further exploitation of these people?