Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga
在トンガ日本国大使館

　The Soroban Competition co-hosted annually by the Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga and the Ministry of Education and Training of Tonga, was held for Primary Schools in ‘Eua on Thursday, 10 September, 2015.

　 Six primary schools in ‘Eua participated in the competition held at the ‘Eua High School Hall. Approximately 280 students from Classes 3, 4 and 5 competed with each other in three categories, the written examination, oral examination and flash examination.

　 Angaha Government Primary School won the top school in the competition. ‘Ohonua Government Primary School came second and Ta’anga Government Primary School came third. The top students in the written examination from Classes 3 and 4 are to represent ‘Eua Primary School in the National Competition to be held in Nuku’alofa, next year in March. (kindly refer to the attachment for the result of the completion)

　Soroban education started in Tonga since the 1970’s and has served as one of the foundations of long-standing and strong ties between Japan and Tonga. Soroban has also been proven to contribute to strengthen mathematical skills of primary students, hence incorporated as a compulsory element of the mathematics subjects from Class 3 to Class 5 in Government Primary Schools in the Kingdom.

　The Tonga Soroban Competition is co-hosted annually by the Embassy of Japan in Tonga and the Ministry of Education and Training since 2010. The Competition started with the annual Regional Competitions in the outer islands and districts in Tongatapu before the National Competition. This year’s competition started in Vava’u on Friday, 24 July, in Ha’apai on August 6th, and in Tongatapu on August 18th, 20th and 25th, and in ‘Eua on September 10th. The National competition will be held next year in March.  

　 The series of Soroban Competitions are supported by the Tonga Soroban Education Association, JICA Tonga Office, and Japan International Soroban Diffusion Foundation.