| Description |
"This report focuses on where Tonga stands in regard to the 2003 Convention in terms of achievements and challenges faced since the second sub-regional meeting that was held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, in February 2011.
Tonga has signed two conventions—the 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 2003 Convention. There is no doubt of the benefits received from signing these two conventions. The State Parties are experiencing the same problems related to westernisation, globalisation, and migration, and we have to act professionally in trying to maintain, preserve, develop, and promote our traditional cultures; otherwise, our traditions will drift away from us, leaving nothing for the next generation. Hence, the transmission of skills from one generation to the next generation is one of the vital activities to adopt through formal, non-formal, and informal education.
The two main education outcome objectives that guide us in performing our tasks in the Ministry of Education, Women’s Affairs are to
1. Preserve, maintain, support, promote, and integrate Tongan values, culture, and language into all educational programmes and activities
2. Improve universal basic education and post basic education through curriculum development that includes culture, gender, ICT, language policy, sports, technical vocational education and training skills, life skills, and life- long learning
These are the activities that have been done or are being undertaken during the 2011 and 2012 financial year in relation to implementing the 2003 Convention at the national level:
• Second Sub – regional network meeting held in Tonga, February 2011;
• Initial discussion related to the field survey project with ICHCAP
• Completed National Cultural Policy, August 2011
• Signed Joint Project Agreement between Tonga and ICHCAP, October 2011
• Completed Phase One of the Joint Project Agreement October – December 2011" |
