Tonga Education Policy Framework
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Final D r a f t TONGA EDUCATION POLICY FRAMEWORK 2004 - 2019 Goal 1: To improve equitable access to and quality of universal basic education for all children in Tonga up to Year 8 (Form 2). Goal 2. To improve the access to and quality of post-basic education and training to cater for the different abilities and needs of students. Goal 3. To improve the administration of education and training so that the Strategic Goals Strategic quality of educational performance is enhanced. 23 April 2004 Final Draft Tonga Education Policy Framework – 23 April 2004 Document Details Prepared By: Vince Catherwood, Education Management Consultant, & Victor Levine, Education Economics Consultant & Ministry of Education Planning Group. Document No.: 05 For: Ministry of Education, Government of Tonga This document contains 109 pages Version 05 Revised 5/17/2004 7:22 PM Document No. 05 Education Policy Framework.doc Tonga Ministry of Education 2 “Ko e hakau ‘o e ‘aho ni, ko e fonua ia ‘o e ‘apongipongi” (The reefs of today will be the islands of tomorrow) Final Draft Tonga Education Policy Framework – 23 April 2004 Table of Contents Opening Statement.........................................................................................................5 1. Introduction............................................................................................................7 The Education Sector in Tonga..................................................................................7 Background to Present Developments.......................................................................7 Purpose of the Education Policy Framework...........................................................10 Scope & Design of the Education Policy Framework and its Relationship to Other Planning Documents ................................................................................................10 2. Vision...................................................................................................................13 Achieving the Vision ...........................................................................................13 3. Mission Statement................................................................................................15 4. Values ..................................................................................................................16 Personal Values........................................................................................................16 Philosophical Values................................................................................................17 5. Policy Statement ..................................................................................................19 6. Goals ....................................................................................................................20 7. Principles..............................................................................................................21 8. Policy Areas, Government Responses, and Expected Policy Outcomes .............22 Policy Development, Planning and Monitoring...................................................22 Universal Basic Education to Year 8 (Form 2);...................................................25 Education After Year 8 (After Form 2); ..............................................................30 Early Childhood Education..................................................................................32 Special Education.................................................................................................34 Language Policy...................................................................................................36 Curriculum ...........................................................................................................40 Assessment...........................................................................................................43 Teacher Supply ....................................................................................................46 Teacher Quality....................................................................................................48 Skill Development and Lifelong Learning ..........................................................52 Reorganisation of Tertiary Education..................................................................56 Management and Control of Education ...............................................................59 Efficiency.............................................................................................................65 Sport.....................................................................................................................69 Information and Communications Technology ...................................................71 Financing Options and Financial Sustainability ..................................................74 9. Strategies..............................................................................................................78 10. Monitoring. ......................................................................................................82 11. Budget..............................................................................................................83 Major Cost Drivers and Assumptions......................................................................83 Fifteen-Year Cost Estimates ....................................................................................89 12. Resource Projections........................................................................................92 Assumptions.............................................................................................................92 Sustainability Analysis.............................................................................................98 13. Appendix 1: Policy Advice & Policy Development......................................102 Appendix 2: Possible Approaches to Financing ........................................................104 Appendix 3: Estimated 15 Year Costs By Program, By Sub-Program, & By Activity ....................................................................................................................................107 Tonga Ministry of Education 4 Final Draft Tonga Education Policy Framework – 23 April 2004 Opening Statement The Government of Tonga, through the Ministry of Education, has been working for a period of over two years to develop this Education Policy Framework 2004-2019. The initial impetus for this work was derived from two principal sources. The production of Strategic Development Plan 7 (2001-2004) in July 2001 was a major milestone for Tonga, as it adopted a new approach to economic and social development planning. The three key themes of this overarching plan for Tonga’s development (Restructuring for Higher Sustainable Economic Growth, Ensuring Financial Stability, and Investing in People) focused centrally on the role of the education sector in promoting the country’s growth. It was recognised, however, that a more detailed planning blueprint was needed in order to deliver the education outcomes that were being sought for Tonga. The comprehensive review of the education sector that culminated in the Final Report: Tonga Education Sector Study (March 2003) was a further catalyst for action. The 28 recommendations of this review were formally adopted by the Government of Tonga in April 2003. At the same time, the Government sought additional assistance from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) and the World Bank in order to analyse and synthesise the findings from the Education Sector Study, and to facilitate the development of policy options and broadly costed alternatives for discussion by stakeholders invited by the Government of Tonga to take part in a consultative process. Following these discussions, the Government of Tonga wished to make decisions on the most appropriate Education Policy Framework for the country, and facilitate the development of a Strategic Plan for implementing this framework. This document is the result. It has arisen from a further comprehensive process of consultation that has seen a discussion booklet (Education Issues and Policy Options in Tonga (September 2003) circulated throughout Tonga, responses analysed, and a draft Education Policy Options Paper (November 2003) circulated for subsequent comment and feedback from stakeholders. The feedback received has now been incorporated in this publication. The Education Policy Framework 2004-2019 provides Tonga with a vision and a broad outline strategy for the development of our education system over the medium to longer term (a period of approximately 15 years). It gives guidance for the future development of the country’s education sector, and is the foundation document of two other linked and closely related education planning documents. The first three years of this framework has been further developed in the Ministry of Education’s Corporate Plan 2004-2007 which has been designed according to the guidelines set out by the Public Service Commission as part of the Tonga Public Service Reform activities. The design of the Corporate Plan 2004-2007 is also linked to the structure of the Budget, and thus focuses on the 6 broad Programs in the Education Budget. These six Programs in turn are further subdivided into Sub– Programs, then Activities and finally Sub-Activities. Tonga Ministry of Education 5 Final Draft Tonga Education