Tupou College

Tupou College
File:Tupoucollege.jpg
Location
Toloa Tonga
Information
Type	Public School / Church owned
Motto	Template:Lang-to Tonga's Center is in its Heart
Denomination	Free Weslyan Church of Tonga
Established	1866
Founder	Rev James Egan Moulton
Principal	Rev.Dr.Fisi'ihoi Mone
Age	11 to 18
Enrollment	935 (2011)
Language	Tongan, English
Colour(s)	Blue, White and Black
Website	http://www.tct.to

Tupou College is a Methodist boys' secondary boarding school in Toloa on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga.It is located on the Eastern District of Tongatapu near the village of Malapo. The school is owned by the Free Weslyan Church of Tonga. Established in 1866 by James Egan Moulton, it claims to be the oldest secondary school in the Pacific Islands. Enrolment is some 1,000 pupils. Tupou College was first established at Nuku'alofa at the location on which Queen Salote College stands today. From there it moved to Nafualu, Sia'atoutai on the site where Sia'atoutai Theological College now stands. In 1948, the school last moved to Toloa in the Eastern District of Tongatapu where it still stands today.

Missionary A. Harold Wood was Principal from 1924 to 1937, during which time the school expanded from 30 students to almost 400.

The College has a 750-acre (3.0 km²) campus, on which crops of vegetables and fruit are grown. This includes an area of forest noted in Tonga as the Toloa Rainforest Reserve containing a variety of plant species endemic to Tonga as well as those no longer found in other parts of the kingdom. The forest is far smaller in size today then when they first moved there because of the construction of the airport, University of the Nations at Lafalafa and clearance for extra farmland. Tree planting projects have been carried out in the previous years within the forest to ensure the continuous growth of the unique species found at Toloa.

Notable alumni

• Willie Ofahengaue , professional Australian rugby union player
• Saimone Taumoepeau , professional New Zealand rugby union player

Education

The school trains students in Christian discipleship through programs of worship, study, work and recreation. They stay within the campus from Saturdays to Fridays. All students are required to stay within the campus; the only exception being those possessing medical problems and difficulties.The campus has 12 dormitories for the boys to stay in. These dormitories are named after major contributors to the Free Weslyan Church noted for the work they've done in the upbringing of Christianity in Tonga. These are:

• John Thomas (noted for bringing Methodism to Tonga)
• Harold Wood (after Rev.A.Harold Wood)
• Tevita Tonga
• Rodger Page (after Rev.Rodger Page)
• Kau Ta'e'iloa
• 'Aho'eitu
• Sau Faupula
• John Wesley (the founder of the Methodist Church on which the Free Weslyan Church of Tonga is based)
• Ronald Woodgate (after Rev.Ronald Woodgate)
• Alofaina
• Meleke Fonua - used by the school athletes and senior rugby team
• Sione Havea - used by students preparing for government examinations

The normal routine involves school from 8:45am till 3:00pm, work in the school gardens till 5:00pm with further extra hours of study from 7:00pm till 9:00pm. The boys sleep from 9:30pm to 6:30. The school focuses on the discipline of students to prepare them for life as men in the modern Tongan society. The school treats all students equally though the Tongan culture states that nobles and royals must be treated with special respect.

School grades are from forms 1-7 (Year 7-13) including two technical classes where students learn engineering, motor repair, carpentry, metalwork and electrical engineering.

Sources

• "Tupou College" at Tonga on the 'NET