Tonga has launched its first National Apprenticeship Policy, setting out a four-year framework to expand apprenticeships and strengthen the transition from education and training into employment.

His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala officially launched the Tonga National Apprenticeship Policy 2026–2030 in Nuku’alofa on 25 August.

The policy builds on a Quality Apprenticeship Pilot Programme that began in 2024 with students from Ahopanilolo Technical Institute and employers in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The pilot has since expanded to 36 apprentices with 19 employers across cookery, accommodation services, fashion design and hairdressing, with construction expected to be added later this year.

The Government’s corporate plan identified the national policy as a priority for developing an apprenticeship system that responds to skills shortages and supports business growth and employment.

The policy was developed through collaboration between the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Tonga Chamber of Commerce & Industry, TVET institutions and the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board, with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization.

The ILO said in 2025 that the policy was intended to address skills shortages, improve youth employment opportunities and strengthen links between education and the labour market.

Over the next four years, implementation will focus on expanding Tonga’s apprenticeship system. The key test will be whether the policy translates training opportunities into sustainable employment and gives employers access to workers with skills that match the needs of the local economy.