The government has declared a one-off public holiday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Queen Salote College, recognising the milestone as a significant moment in the country’s educational and cultural history.
Cabinet approved the designation of Thursday, 12 March 2026, as a nationwide government public holiday during its meeting on Monday. The decision allows the public to take part in centenary celebrations honouring the institution widely known in Tonga as Kolisi Fefine or The Girls’ College.
Although the school was founded on 15 January 1923, the college counts its official anniversaries from 1926, when it gained academic independence from Tupou College. The centenary celebrations are scheduled to start from Thursday 12 March, aligns with the birthday of the late Queen Sālote Tupou III, after whom the school is named.
Queen Salote College is Tonga’s only all-girls secondary school and operates under the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. It was named in honour of Queen Sālote by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV and has long played a central role in educating generations of Tongan women.
The school is located on Vahaʻakolo Road in Nukuʻalofa, on land where Tupou College originally stood after its establishment in 1866. Historically, girls first received formal education at Tupou College in 1870 before separate education for girls developed in later decades.
Today, Queen Salote College offers education from Forms 1 to 7 and follows the national curriculum, which is closely aligned with the New Zealand education system. Alongside academic subjects, students also learn traditional Tongan crafts such as weaving mats, making taʻovala and kiekie, and producing tapa cloth.
In a statement on the school’s website, Principal Reverend Sela Latailakepa described the college as “a place where young women are empowered to grow in faith, knowledge, and character”.
As celebrations approach, the centenary is expected to draw former students, church leaders and community members, reflecting the college’s long-standing influence on education and leadership among Tongan women.
