ITI Articles

In February of 2008 Bethlehem Tertiary Institute was approached by the Minister and Director of Education in Tonga and contracted to write the curriculum and conceptual framework for a Diploma of Education in Early Childhood. This diploma forms the basis for all early childhood teacher training in Tonga.  Dr Marion Sanders, teacher education lecturer and Director of Offshore Teaching Programmes at BTI, coordinated the writing and collation of the programme in collaboration with key stakeholders in Tonga and input from colleagues. In July of 2008 the programme commenced at the Tongan Institute of Education with the first 20 students, who had previously all been volunteers as early childhood educators.

This is the first time that this qualification has been available in Tonga, as previously all early childhood educators had just been dedicated volunteers with no formal training. The Director and Minister of Education in Tonga have recognised recently the need and the value of education that has a strong foundation in Christianity and Tongan values, starting at an early age.

The three year diploma is a centre-based programme consisting of two days on campus, two days at an early childhood centre, and one day of study per week. The key point of difference compared to traditional Tongan ways of teaching is that it gives the student teachers a weekly opportunity to put into direct practice the things they have learnt. It also includes assessment tasks that focus on individual learning, group learning, written/oral and dance/singing. When the programme was being created it had a strong focus on the incorporation of important Tongan values and way of life. A crucial part of the curriculum is that it places the emphasis on incorporating three key elements: being Tongan; being Christian; and being an educator.

Feedback about the programme has been extremely positive with an immense amount of enthusiasm and participation from the students involved. For many of the students this programme has had a profound affect on all areas of their lives from their confidence and professionalism as an educator to their spirituality and biblical learning.

As of this January, another 15 early childhood volunteer teachers, funded by their centres, enroled and started in the programme that that will allow them to achieve a professional qualification for the first time.