7 Aug 2013

Work begins for long term solution of inter-school violence in Tonga

4:31 am on 7 August 2013

The Tonga Secondary School Principals Association says now that the dust has begun to settle between two rival high schools, the real work to solve the problem of inter-school violence will begin.

147 current and former students from Tupou College were arrested in relation to an attack in July that left two Tonga College students in hospital.

The rivalry between the two schools goes back decades.

Since the attack, the police and school prefects have been jointly patrolling known trouble areas in an effort to keep the peace.

The head of the secondary school Principals Association, Father Aisake Vaisima, says a task-force has also been set up to come up with long-term solutions.

"The principals will meet again to continue our discussing further avenues to pursue. Over all it has died down, over all the excitement and everything else is back to normal and now the real work is starting."

Father Aisake Vaisima says students will be included in coming up with a solution together with the ministry of education and the police.