Commissioning of the new and repaired classrooms for ‘Apifo’ou College Featured
4 December, 2020. His Eminence Bishop Soane Patita Paini Cardinal Mafi was the Guest of Honour in the commissioning of the new and repaired classrooms for ‘Apifo’ou College eafrly this week.
This is the second phase of this construction. There is one new building of four classrooms, whose partitions can be drawn to form one big hall. Two buildings, of four and two classrooms, were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita in 2018, have been repaired; they also have a store room each. The value of the construction was TOP$1,748,043.00.
This construction is under the Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) project led by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) and co-funded by the World Bank and the Australian Government.
It aims to contribute to the resilient and sustainable economic and social development of Tonga through strengthening: early warning; resilient investment; and financial protection.
The PREP project includes the retrofitting/repairing and reconstructing of school buildings which were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita that hit Tonga and ‘Eua in February 2018.
There are 25 schools in the project, building 33 new buildings and repairing 10. It is a total of more than 120 classrooms in Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Vava’u and cost approximately TOP$28 million.
The Principal, Fr. ‘Ekuasi Manu warmly welcomed the guests, “It is the most fulfilling sentiment when a leader observes the eyes of his subjects’ sense of being loved, wanted and cared for. Since the devastation from Cyclone Gita in 2018, ‘Apifo’ou College went through waves and ripple effects of hardship, yet we endured all that and today we reap the fruits of our patience and perseverance. This attribute confirms the determination of our staff and students to excel regardless of the unfavourable conditions of our classrooms. Indeed, ‘Apifo’ou you are the brave-hearts of today. May I once again, your Eminence, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen welcome you to ‘Apifo’ou College.”
His Eminence Bishop Soane Patita Paini Cardinal Mafi stated, “This is a memorable day, which marks the importance of our children. The aftermath of Cyclone Gita caused students to study in tents and despite the cold, both students and teachers persevered. The students and I am so glad for the beautiful buildings, we gaze with wonderment, witnessing the best in which they are to study comfortably.”
Representatives from Cardno; Mr. Paea Pau’u the Manager of the Ca’Bella Construction Limited; Deputy Director Ministry of Education and Training, Mr. ‘Isikeli Oko and representatives; Project Management Unit representatives; members of the clergy; exstudents, teachers and parents were also present to celebrate this prestigious milestone.
Cardno, the Managing Contractor, designed and supervised the construction. The builder was the Ca’Bella Pacific (Tonga) Construction Limited.
