Secondary School For Nuku'alofa

Nuku'alofa

From Our Own Correspondent

Nukualofa, July 2.

AN interesting development in the educational advancement of Ton gans is the proposed new high school of the same standard as New Zealand and Australian secondary schools, and from which Tongan pupils will be able to matriculate to the New Zealand University. This will be established on the old site of the Government College, Nukualofa. The scheme was originated by Crown Prince Tupouto’a-Tungi, Minister of Education.

The European community has agreed that the present school for European children be incorporated in| the new school. The quota for European pupils in the proposed school is 30, and it is thought that by mixing with European children it will be easier for the Tongan pupils to learn English, in which langu age all instruction in the new school will be made.

The quota of 60 Tongan pupils will be carefully selected along certain lines set down by the Minister of Education.

One of the requirements is that pupils must complete the syllabus for Govern ment Primary Schools before being per mit 4 -^ 1 m take the high school entrance examination. A fee of £1 a month per punil will be required. Pupils must be under 12 years of age on the date of taking the entrance examination.

The whole scheme, of course, will be in the nature of an experiment, and it remains to be seen whether Tongan pupils, in their own environment, will be able to master the English tongue suf ficiently well to enable them to matricu late in such languages as Latin and French.

However, it has been proved that the latent mental power of the Tongan is of hiffh calibre, capable of development. It is therefore hoped that the scheme will open up vast nossibilities for young Tongans, who hitherto have had little or no opportunities for higher education.