22 Aug 2005

Striking Tongan teachers want education director to go

3:48 pm on 22 August 2005

Striking teachers in Tonga are calling for Viliami Takau to stand down as director of education so that any further acts of vandalism are avoided.

Last week, a high school was vandalised along with other government property belonging to both the ministry of education and the tax and customs department.

The teachers, who are part of a public servant strike that is into its fifth week, met today discussing how to deflate the current tension surrounding the strike.

Our correspondent, Mateni Tapueluelu, says the teachers have decided Mr Takau should be held responsible for the recent spate of vandalism.

"Last week the private residence of the director got stoned and they believe that his policy is rising tension within the ministry of education, for example the removing of the principal of Atele or Tonga College and the chief tutor from there, really made the students angry and resulted in them damaging the school, so they really want him out."

Mateni Tapueluelu