Handover of AHP Safe Schools Assets to the Ministry of Education and Training

The workshop, held on September 10–11 at the PMU/SCA office in Fasi, brought together
officers from MET’s Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), Truancy, Emergency
and Safety Division (TESD), and Asset Management Unit (Finance), alongside PMU/SCA staff.
The two-day training, delivered by SCA’s Regional School Safety and Disaster Risk Reduction
Project Officer, Lopeti Faka’osi focused on equipping participants with the knowledge and skills
to effectively administer, manage, and scale the SSSAS Application and Portal across schools in
Tonga.
The SSSAS system is designed to strengthen school safety nationwide by:
• Protecting students and staff from death and injury in and around schools.
• Safeguarding educational continuity in times of disaster.
• Protecting school assets.
Survey data collected through the system will generate automated reports with actionable
recommendations for improving school safety and emergency preparedness. The insights will
also support district, provincial, and national education authorities and partners in planning
efforts to enhance the resilience of Tonga’s education system.
The development of the SSSAS application and portal is a key outcome of the AHP Safe Schools
Project, which was initiated in response to the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcanic eruption,
tsunami, and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic.
PMU Lead, Ms. Lilieta Takau, and SCA Program and Partnerships Manager, Ms. Maaʻimoa
Mafileʻo handed over the Tonga SSSAS application and portal, a laptop, 36 school safety vests, a
hard drive, and other items to Mr. Tevita Kalafitoni Latu, Director of TESD, and Mr. Semisi
Pasikala, Asset Management Education Officer, of MET.
SCA continues to work in collaboration with the Government of Tonga, partners, and
communities towards safer and more resilient schools for children in Tonga