12 Nov 2015

New system stops Tonga school finding top scholar

8:31 pm on 12 November 2015

One of Tonga's biggest schools says it is not naming a dux this year because a new assessment system makes it impossible to determine the top scholar.

Tonga Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.

Tonga Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva. Photo: RNZ

Tonga education officials, with the push from prime minister and education minister, Akilisi Pohiva, introduced a new system of measurement this year amid concerns over the performance of students.

But Radio Tonga reports Tonga High School officials saying that under the new system, called Raw Marks, they are cannot calculate who should be dux this year.

The school began using the new system halfway through the year.

The failure to announce a dux has reportedly caused widespread disappointment among people associated with the school.