Project Information

The Tonga Safe and Resilient Schools Project (TSRSP) supports national and sectoral plans and policy, including Tonga’s National Strategic Development Framework (2015-2025), Climate Change Policy (2016-2035), the Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management (2018-2028), and the National Infrastructure Investment Plan (2013-2023).  TSRSP will reduce vulnerabilities to disaster and climate change and will contribute to climate resilience and adaptation through the construction, retrofitting and improved operation and maintenance of resilient education facilities. In addition, the TSRSP will support Tonga’s Climate Resilient Investment Planning and inclusion of climate change within the school curricula and lay important groundwork for improvements to the quality of education management in Tonga. Specifically on the latter, the TSRSP supports the revision of the curricula for school years 1 to 6 and 9 to 13, the improvement of student assessments, and the establishment of the Education Management Information System (EMIS).

The Project is aligned with the World Bank Group’s Regional Partnership Framework: For Kiribati, Republic of Nauru, Republic of The Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Samoa, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, FY17-FY23 (Report Number 100997-EAP).

In particular, it is in line with Focus Area 2: Enhancing access to employment opportunities through its contribution to achievement of Objective 2.2: Addressing education and skills gap; and to Focus Area 3: Protecting incomes and livelihoods through its contribution to the achievement of Objective 3.1: Strengthened resilience to natural disasters and climate change.

The Government of Tonga's education project is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Training with the Ministry of Finance serving as the executing agency, funded through approximately US$42+ million equivalent from multiple sources. The financing includes three World Bank IDA grants totalling SDR 29.3 million (SDR 10.6 million in February 2022, SDR 7.6 million additional funding in August 2022, and SDR 11.1 million second additional funding in December 2024), complemented by US$9.47 million in co-financing from the Global Partnership for Education Multiplier Fund (US$4.75 million in December 2024) and the Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility with US$3.2 million from an existing August 2022 grant and US$1.5 million from December 2024. This multi-year, multi-tranche financing structure demonstrates a phased approach with additional funding rounds in 2022 and 2024 to expand the project's scope and impact.

Project Objectives

The TSRSP objectives are: (i) to enhance the safety and resilience of selected education facilities; and (ii) to improve the quality of data-driven education management, curricula and assessments in the selected educational programs; and (iii) in case of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, respond promptly and effectively to it.

Project Components

The Project has 4 Components.

Component 1: Improving Safety and Resilience of Education Facilities

Sub-component 1.1: Resilient Infrastructure Investments:

Our project involves constructing new classrooms, staff accommodation, and WASH facilities, alongside retrofitting and repairing some of the current classrooms to improve the learning environment.

 

New Staff Quarter

GMS Te`ekiu New Staff Quarter.

Sub-component 1.2: Strengthening Education Infrastructure Planning and Maintenance

 

Component 2: Establishment of EMIS and Improved quality of curricula and assessments

Sub-component 2.1 Establishment of a comprehensive Education Management Information System (EMIS)

Sub-component 2.2: Upgrading of Curricula and Assessments

Sub-component 2.3: Supporting Quality Primary and Secondary Education

 

Sub-component 2.4 : Improving Learning and Teaching Conditions