Tupou College


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. Tupou College's Brother school is Newington College which is in Sydney, Australia.
Missionary A. Harold Wood was Principal from 1924 to 1937, during which time the school expanded from 30 students to almost 400. The first Tongan principal of the school was Rev. Sione Siupeli Taiamoni Taliai who was principal from 1970–1979.
The College has a 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 survival and continuous growth of the unique species found at Toloa.

Notable alumni

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.
School grades are from forms 1-7 including two technical classes where students learn engineering, motor repair, carpentry, metalwork, electrical engineering and art & design.
Students are also required to make some from a variety of Tongan Handicrafts including: polished coconut shells and kafa. It is from this that students learn the art,traditional skills, and culture of Tonga also benefiting the school as it is sold in the college's annual bazaar.

Curriculum

As most schools in Tonga do, Tupou College follows the curriculum of the Tongan Ministry of Education which is based on the New Zealand Curriculum. Technical classes also offer courses where students can continue studies in New Zealand.

Magazine

Tupou College has a magazine published annually to record events and participation in the school. It is known as the Ko e Havea Magazine.

Principals

Before 1970, all of Tupou College's principals were Australian and were assigned to work in Tonga as missionaries. It was only in 1970 that Tupou College received its first Tongan principal, Rev. Siupeli T. Taliai, who served as principal for nine years; from 1970–1979.
PrincipalYears
Rev. Dr. James Egan Moulton1866-1888
Rev. James Egan Moulton Jnr1895-1905
Rev. Charles P. Walkden Brown1906-1908
Rev. Rodger Page1909-1915
Rev. Dr. E.E.V.Collocott1916-1923
Rev. Dr. Alfred Harold Wood1924-1937
Rev. Cecil Gribble1939-1943
Rev. Eban.E.V. Newman1944-1947
Rev. Ronald A.W. Woodgate1948-1951
Rev. Howard W. Secomb1951-1963
Rev. John Sutton1964-1967
Rev. Siupeli T. Taliai1970-1979
Rev. Dr. Tevita Tongamohenoa Puloka1980-1984
Rev. David Mills1985-1989
Rev. Sione Hikaione Fonua1990-1994
Rev. Dr. 'Asinate Samate1995
Rev. Siosaia Pele1996-1997
Rev. Dr. Tevita Hala Palefau1998-2001
Rev. Dr. 'Asinate Samate2002-2003
Rev. Tu'ipulotu Malakai Pomana2003-2004
Rev. Dr. Fisi'ihoi Mone2005-2013
Rev. 'Alifeleti 'Atiola2014 -

House system

The school has 12 houses. They are:
  1. John Thomas
  2. Harold Wood
  3. Tevita Tonga
  4. 'Aho'eitu
  5. Siupeli Taliai
  6. Kau Ta'e'iloa
  7. Howard Secomb
  8. Sau Faupula
  9. John Wesley
  10. Wood Gate
  11. Rodger Page
  12. Sione Havea

    Museum

Tukuaho Memorial Museum is a small museum in the campus which houses many important Tongan artifacts given to the museum by the Tongan royal family and by many others that exhibit the school's history as well as Tongan culture. Admission is free and visitors may contact the school to visit as the museum is only open by appointment.