Sandy Falemaka of ‘Ohonua, ‘Eua won the 2016 National Soroban competition for Tonga in the Class 5 Written Category, with a trip to Japan to participate in the Annual Soroban Camp as her main prize.
A statement said Sandy was the best pick of the lot when the competition was held at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall on March 17.
Her trip to Japan will be funded by the International Soroban Diffusion Foundation. This year is the 6th competition at national level since soroban was introduced in 1977.
The participants consisted of students selected from Classes 4 and 5 from the outer islands, including Vava’u, ‘Eua and Ha’apa and students from here in Tongatapu.
Speaking at the Keynote Address, the Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Training, Hon. ‘AkilisiPohiva said that children are the future of our nation and Tonga’s most important resource.
He said that is why the government of Tonga and international partners, such as the Government of Japan and International Soroban Diffusion Foundation (ISDF) work together to provide quality education needed for the nation’s future development and lifelong learning.
He added that children need the ability to learn basic literacy and numeracy during primary level.
“Evidence shows that a child needs to be competent in basic literacy and numeracy at primary level, in order to enjoy the full benefits of secondary and higher education…..but soroban is the only numeracy initiative adopted to revive falling interest and performance in mathematics.”
The Prime Minister showed thanked Mr. Masao Fuji, Director General of ISDF for their long term contributions and support towards Soroban education in the Kingdom of Tonga.
“I thank you Mr. Fuji and your association the ISDF for your continuous support for implementing soroban in the Kingdom, with the 40th year this year,” he said.
“Over the years you strengthened the support with teachers and now almost all children in the kingdom are equitably accessed to soroban education.”
Japan’s Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr. Yukio Numata urged the crowd to carry on with the close cooperation in promoting the study of Soroban in Tonga as young Japanese students will be visiting to join in the competition.
He said Soroban not only helps children improve their mathematical skills by understanding the subject but it also improves concentration and motivates an active and positive attitude towards study, no matter what the subject is.
“It can also serve as a life-learning skill if you embrace it – it can teach you values such as diligence, perseverance, accuracy, capability, effifiency and much more.”
The Results for the Class 4 Written Category was taken by Tatiana Palu of Ha’apai. For the Oral Category, Class 5 goes to Vava’u with ‘EikiPeavaleVainikolo and Class 4 to Tatiana Palu of Ha’apai. The Flash Category for Class 5 was won by Vaha’i Palu, Ha’apai and Joshua Tupou, Tongatapu for Class 4.
For the overall performances, schools who gets the trophy was ‘Eua for first prize, Ha’apaisecand and Vava’u for third prize.
Last category was the Teacher’s Category and the first prize goes to Tongatapu, Vahekolo, Second and third was Ha’apai.