SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Program of Studies
The School of Education is the major training provider for teacher education programs in the Kingdom of Tonga. The Schools has a total of 87 courses being taught in 9 programs as follows:
1. Initial Teachers Certificate in Teaching Level 4
Program Statement: Designs for the untrained teachers at secondary school level. Its aim is to provide high-quality, certified teachers for every classroom in Tonga. The certificate will equip teachers with a philosophical basis for Tongan education, core attributes of an effective teacher, skills in Assessment, pedagogy, teaching resource development using Tongan modern technology to improve teaching and learning in the Tongan classroom context.
2. Teaching Certificate Level 5 – Secondary
Program Statement: Designs for school leavers who wish to teach at secondary school level. It is intended to provide high-quality, certified teachers for every classroom in Tonga, This certificate will equip teachers with a philosophical basis for Tongan education, core attributes of an effective teacher, skills in Assessment, pedagogy, teaching resource development using modern technology and Tongan to improve teaching and learning in Tongan classrooms.
3. Teaching Certificate Level 5 – Primary
Program Statement: Designs school leavers who wish to teach at primary school level. It is intended to provide high-quality, certified teachers for every classroom in Tonga, The certificate will equip teachers with a philosophical basis for Tongan education, core attributes of an effective teacher, skills in Assessment, pedagogy, teaching resource development using modern technology and Tongan to improve teaching and learning in Tongan classrooms.
4. Diploma of Education – Secondary
Program Statement: An applied professional teacher education program that integrates theory and practice and enables a balanced progression of knowledge, understanding and skills throughout the program. It aims to produce competent teachers who possess depth of knowledge, a range of skills and positive attitudes for effective teaching and meaningful participation in the development of education in Tonga. The program aims to produce teachers with a sound general education, dedication to teaching and can operate in secondary schools at a high level of professional competencies.
5. Diploma of Education – Primary
Program Statement: An applied professional teacher education program that integrates theory and practice and enables a balanced progression of knowledge, understanding and skills throughout the program. It aims to produce competent teachers who possess depth of knowledge, a range of skills and positive attitudes for effective teaching and meaningful participation in the development of education in Tonga. The program aims to produce teachers with a sound general education, dedication to teaching and who can operate in the primary schools at a high level of professional competence.
6. Bachelor of Education – Secondary
Program Statement: Designs to further enrich teacher trainees in their content, professional, and pedagogical knowledge learnings as Faiako Ma’a Tonga. Courses which will allow for in-depth studying of chosen curriculum teaching areas, context specific tailored education courses, and professional experience placement are core in this program. The program also intends to empower graduates to weave together knowledge and skills, mind and context to inspire and educate young minds. Graduates will understand the world from multiple viewpoints and possess the relational sensitivity, competency and imagination to evaluate and adapt to rapid changes within communities, Tonga and in contemporary society.
7. Bachelor of Education – Primary
Program Statement: Designs to further enrich teacher trainees in their content, professional, and pedagogical knowledge learnings as Faiako Ma’a Tonga. Courses which will allow for in-depth studying of chosen curriculum teaching areas, context specific tailored education courses, and professional experience placement are core in this program. The program also intends to empower graduates to weave together knowledge and skills, mind and context to inspire and educate young minds. Graduates will understand the world from multiple viewpoints and possess the relational sensitivity, competency and imagination to evaluate and adapt to rapid changes within communities, Tonga and in contemporary society.
8. Bachelor of Education – Tonga Early Childhood Teaching
Program Statement: Develops based on a direction from the Ministry of Education and Training to establish after His Majesty King Tupou VI’s state visit to New Zealand in 2013. Amongst the array of economic and social programs and initiatives presented for His Majesty’s inspection, an Early Childhood Education degree program was recommended developed. The program was designed with specific intention for ECE in Tonga that is born out of Tonga, its people, its unique sets of knowledge and skills, values and beliefs, epistomologies and tailored specifically for Tongans in Tonga and to be delivered in the Tongan language.
Target students is not restricted to potential ECE teachers, but is extended to all Tongans of all ages, whether you are in the education sector or not, but who are interested in pursuing an academic qualification that not only recognizes their perspectives of education, from what and where it is derived, but would also allow them to make a positive contribution to education and society as a whole.
9. Graduate Diploma of Education
Program Statement: Designs to provide its participants with the professional education that will enable them to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and habits of action-research and praxis (reflective practice and active reflection) to provide a sound base for secondary teaching to Form 7. It aims to build on participants’ existing ideas to establish a sound theoretical base, to encourage further development of this knowledge through research and practice in the secondary school setting and provide flexibility in both educational thinking and approaches to teaching. The desired outcome is teachers who are confident in their ability to develop and implement effective classroom programs and aware of the ongoing nature of personal and professional development.