Tonga Education Minister sticking with rugby boxing ban Featured
Hon. Penisimani Fifita
27 March, 2018. Tonga's Education Minister remains adamant that girls should not play rugby or box.
The comment came after his ministry announced a ban on girls playing rugby or boxing at Tonga High School - one of the main government schools in the country.
Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva has since issued a statement that said all Tongans should be encouraged to participate and there should be no discrimination in any sports.
But the Education Minister Penisimani Fifita is not budging and has blamed any negative reactions on cultural differences.
"So you are talking from a different culture to a different culture," he said.
"Here is what we have looked at. Only the girls at Tonga High School are not permitted to play rugby and also to engage in boxing."
"You know that there are some female parts - I think I don't have to go on."
Penisimani Fifita said the ministry has also planned to stop all sport at all government schools for the rest of the year so that students can catch up the time lost because of Cyclone Gita.
He said he would also take a paper to Cabinet to explain his position.
-RNZI
4 comments
-
Malie minisita ako. female parts ki ai !!!!
Pea ko ena ko fepaki a female parts mo ICU, tau sio angee pe ko hai 'e malohi. Ka 'oku hangehange pe 'e malohi TKO 'a ICU he'e kau foki ia mo minisita ta'ofi vahe. -
MINISTA 'ATAMAI FAKALIELIA...Female parts? Ko e me'a pe eni 'oku tokanga ki ai 'a e Minisita faka-moli-Tonga ko 'eni.
All he sees in girls and women are their "female parts". How about their brains, you small brain minister. Playing rugby and boxing are educational growth Tongan girls and ladies are entitled to. Mr. Fifita joins the backward cultures of the world who are still treating girls and women as sex objects, and their properties. He is separating girls based on their biological physical organs. Minister Fifita is an anachronism and an embarrassment to represent Tonga in the field of education. -
'Oku toe fu'u fakaoli ange 'ai ia 'a e Minisita ko'eni pea 'ave ai pe hotau ongoongo lelei. Female Parts kiai...
-
Heikai toe osi hoo mou katuni. Malie ange hoo mou ngaahi foi faiva omoutolu e faiva fakakata o Mr. Bean eee