The Tonga National University (TNU), Public Service Commission and the country’s qualifications authority have jointly pledged to resolve problems surrounding the recognition of certificates from some TNU courses, following concerns raised in Parliament last month.
L-R: CEOs of PSC, Keni Tuʻuhetoka, MET, ʻIsikeli Oko, TNQAB Vilimaka Foliaki and Vice-chancellor of TNU, Dr. Giulio Masasso Paunga.
In a brief joint press release, TNU, the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB), Ministry of Education and Training (MET) and PSC said they wished to “jointly affirm their commitment to resolving matters relating to the issuance and recognition of certificates for students of TNU”.
However, the statement provided no details about which courses or qualifications were affected, how many students were involved, why the certificates had not been recognised or what action would now be taken to resolve the issue.
The statement comes after Kaniva News reported that Parliament was told some students had paid for, completed and passed TNU courses, only to find that their qualifications were not accepted by the PSC.
Tongatapu 7 MP Piveni Piukala told Parliament that graduates from TNU’s Business Faculty had complained that the PSC refused to recognise their qualifications, reportedly because some programmes had not been accredited by TNQAB.
Piukala said the students had paid for, completed and passed the courses.
Tongatapu 4 MP Māteni Tapueluelu said similar complaints had repeatedly been raised during a visit to his constituency.
He told Parliament that those involved had confirmed that some TNU courses had not yet been accredited, and questioned how students had been allowed to undertake those courses under such circumstances.
The new joint statement appears to confirm that the four institutions are now collectively addressing the matter.
TNU said TNQAB had fully registered it as a Post-Compulsory Education and Training provider and that it currently offers about 55 programmes through its faculties of Nursing and Health Sciences; Education, Arts and Humanities; Science and Technology; and Business and Public Administration.
“All parties acknowledge the importance of their collective effort on this matter,” the joint statement said.
