Research into the financing of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the Pacific: Tonga: country report

This study provides a detailed analysis of the financing of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Tonga. The study, which was conducted in late 2013, forms part of a region-wide program, 'Research into the financing of TVET in the Pacific', initiated under Australia's international development assistance program in 2011. The aims of the program are to produce, in conjunction with host country governments and TVET stakeholders, a comprehensive empirical analysis of the existing systems for financing TVET in seven Pacific countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu), identify key financing issues within the region, and the policy implications they have for the future financing for TVET, to enable it to be more efficient and effective at both national and regional levels.

The report is structured in five main parts. Chapter two completes part one, 'Introduction', by providing a detailed description of the research approach used in Tonga, including the data collection instruments that were developed. Part two, 'Country background', contains chapters three to seven that outline the broad national context of Tonga. In part three, 'TVET in context', chapters eight to 11 provide a detailed description of TVET institutions and activities in Tonga, and discuss access to educational opportunities, the contribution of TVET to economic developments, and developments and issues concerning TVET quality. Part four, 'The financing of TVET', presents the main findings and analyses from the study. TVET funding and expenditure patterns and trends are presented and analysed in chapters 12 and 14. The financial mechanisms that channel resources into and throughout the TVET sector are identified and analysed in chapter 13. Chapter 15 details the study team's pilot survey on enterprise training and its funding, and in chapter 16 unit costs of TVET delivery are estimated, and their use in evaluating the efficiency of TVET delivery is assessed. In part five, 'Issues and options', the overall conclusions of the study are summarised, key issues identified, and directions developed for consideration by the Government of Tonga, other TVET stakeholders, and development partners.

Further details on the study are provided in the annexes. Annex one provides the scope and objectives set out in the research brief. Annex two provides the classification and coding systems used in the data collection and recording. The people and organisations involved in consultations during the fieldwork are listed in annex three, and the members of the National Reference Group for the study are provided in annex four. Annex five includes the data collection templates developed for different aspects of the study.

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