Tevita Hala Palefau
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr. Tevita Hala Palefau is a Tonga
n politician and Cabinet Minister
.
Palefau was born at Tu'anekivale, Vava'u, Tonga on June 14th, 1958. He is the oldest son of Kalaniuvalu Peauafi of Tu'anekivale and Koloa and Sokopeti Fakava Havea of Tu'anekivale and 'Ovaka, Vava'u. He started going to school at Tu'anekivale Government Primary School and went on to attend secondary schools at Mailefihi College in Vava'u, St Andrew's School and Tonga High School in Tongatapu. Palefau worked as a teacher at Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapu College in Vava'u
before going to the university. He graduated with a BSc and GCEd from the University of the South Pacific
in 1985 under the New Zealand Bilateral Aid Scholarship and an MSc and PGradDipScEd from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia Curtin University of Technology, Perth under the scholarship from Australian Aid Program before completing a PhD from the University of Toronto
under the Commonwealth of Canada scholarship. From 1996 to 1997 he was principal of Taufa'ahau Pilolevu College, and from 1997 to 2000 principal of Tupou College. He has been teaching science and mathematics and also served as Head of Science and Mathematics Department as well as Deputy Principal. 1998 he was the manager of Tupou College First XV to the World Secondary School Rugby Competition in Zimbabue. He was odtined Minister of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in 1998. Early 2000 he was the manager of the Tonga National Under 19 Rugby Team to compete at the World Under 19 Rugby Tournament in France. He was appointed to the Tongan Cabinet as Minister of Education in January 2005, as Minister for Education, Sport, Youth and Culture by His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and in 2006 to 2010 he served as Minister for Education, Women's Affairs and Culture.In 2008 he was honour with The Grand Order of Queen Salote Tupou III by His Majesty King George Tupou V.From 2005 to 2010 he was also member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, His Majesty Privy Council, Tonga Defence Board, Tonga National Scholarship Board, Pacific Forum Education Minister's Meeting, Commonwealth Education Minister's Meeting, USP Council, USP Executive Council, UNESCO 35th General Conference, World Global Literacy Conference, Vice-President - World Abacus, Arithmetic and Mental Association, Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga General Conference.
He contested the seat of Vava'u 16 in the 2010 election
but was unsuccessful. He is now the Deputy President of Education at Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, General Conference Minute, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, June 2011.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n politician and Cabinet Minister
Tongan Cabinet
The Cabinet of Tonga is the cabinet of the government of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is composed primarily of the ministers of government. The latter, including the Prime Minister, are appointed by the monarch. The Governor of Ha'apai and the Governor of Vava'u also serve on the Cabinet ex officio...
.
Palefau was born at Tu'anekivale, Vava'u, Tonga on June 14th, 1958. He is the oldest son of Kalaniuvalu Peauafi of Tu'anekivale and Koloa and Sokopeti Fakava Havea of Tu'anekivale and 'Ovaka, Vava'u. He started going to school at Tu'anekivale Government Primary School and went on to attend secondary schools at Mailefihi College in Vava'u, St Andrew's School and Tonga High School in Tongatapu. Palefau worked as a teacher at Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapu College in Vava'u
Vava'u
Vavau is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. According to tradition Maui fished both Tongatapu and Vavau but put a little more effort into the former. Vavau rises 204 meters above sea level...
before going to the university. He graduated with a BSc and GCEd from the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
in 1985 under the New Zealand Bilateral Aid Scholarship and an MSc and PGradDipScEd from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia Curtin University of Technology, Perth under the scholarship from Australian Aid Program before completing a PhD from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
under the Commonwealth of Canada scholarship. From 1996 to 1997 he was principal of Taufa'ahau Pilolevu College, and from 1997 to 2000 principal of Tupou College. He has been teaching science and mathematics and also served as Head of Science and Mathematics Department as well as Deputy Principal. 1998 he was the manager of Tupou College First XV to the World Secondary School Rugby Competition in Zimbabue. He was odtined Minister of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in 1998. Early 2000 he was the manager of the Tonga National Under 19 Rugby Team to compete at the World Under 19 Rugby Tournament in France. He was appointed to the Tongan Cabinet as Minister of Education in January 2005, as Minister for Education, Sport, Youth and Culture by His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and in 2006 to 2010 he served as Minister for Education, Women's Affairs and Culture.In 2008 he was honour with The Grand Order of Queen Salote Tupou III by His Majesty King George Tupou V.From 2005 to 2010 he was also member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, His Majesty Privy Council, Tonga Defence Board, Tonga National Scholarship Board, Pacific Forum Education Minister's Meeting, Commonwealth Education Minister's Meeting, USP Council, USP Executive Council, UNESCO 35th General Conference, World Global Literacy Conference, Vice-President - World Abacus, Arithmetic and Mental Association, Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga General Conference.
He contested the seat of Vava'u 16 in the 2010 election
Tongan general election, 2010
Early general elections under a new electoral law were held in Tonga on 25 November 2010. They determined the composition of the 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly....
but was unsuccessful. He is now the Deputy President of Education at Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, General Conference Minute, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, June 2011.