Tokelau Scholarship Scheme

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The Tokelau Scholarship Scheme, officially known as the Government of Tokelau Scholarships (GoTS) Scheme, is a program run by the Tokelauan government in which eligible Tokelauan students are able to receive scholarships to study overseas, either in New Zealand or other locations in the Pacific. As a precondition of accepting the scholarship, students are required to return to Tokelau upon completion of their training so that they may use their skills to contribute to the country's development. Failure to do so will result in the student being required to pay for 60% of the tuition fees. [1]

Tokelau New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean

Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls, with a combined land area of 10 km2 (4 sq mi). The capital rotates yearly between the three atolls. Tokelau lies north of the Samoan Islands, east of Tuvalu, south of the Phoenix Islands, southwest of the more distant Line Islands, and northwest of the Cook Islands. Swains Island is geographically part of Tokelau, but is subject to an ongoing territorial dispute and is currently administered by the United States as part of American Samoa.

A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further their education. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Scholarship money is not required to be repaid.

New Zealand Constitutional monarchy in Oceania

New Zealand is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.

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Educational institutions

The Tokelau Scholarship Scheme favours "internationally recognized Pacific region tertiary institutions", examples being the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji Institute of Technology. [1] However, applications to study in New Zealand and tertiary institutions which, for whatever reason, do not meet the above criteria can be approved on a case-by-case procedure. [1]

University of the South Pacific intergovernmental organisation and public research university

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is an intergovernmental organisation and public research university with 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 and staff from throughout the Pacific region and internationally.

Types of scholarships

Three types of scholarships are available under the Tokelau Scholarship Scheme: Development Scholarships, Short Term Training Awards and Reverse Scholarships.

Development Scholarships are scholarships in which the student goes overseas for full-time undergraduate study. [1] Short Term Training Awards, introduced in 2012, are payments made to support a student in vocational training for a period of no more than one year, subject to approval from an employer or Taupulega. [1] Reverse Scholarships, the most recent addition introduced in 2013, are designed for students which have already completed overseas tertiary study in New Zealand but have not yet paid off their student loans. If such student decides to return to Tokelau to work in the public sector, then over an agreed-upon time the debt will be considered to be paid. [1]

Student loan loans given to students for education-related expenses

A student loan is a type of loan designed to help students pay for post-secondary education and the associated fees, such as tuition, books and supplies, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in the fact that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in school. It also differs in many countries in the strict laws regulating renegotiating and bankruptcy. This article highlights the differences of the student loan system in several major countries.

The public sector is the part of the economy composed of both public services and public enterprises.

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Tokelauan is a Polynesian language spoken in Tokelau and on Swains Island in American Samoa. It is closely related to Tuvaluan and distantly related to Samoan and other Polynesian languages. Tokelauan has a co-official status with English in Tokelau. There are approximately 4,260 speakers of Tokelauan, of whom 2,100 live in New Zealand, 1,400 in Tokelau, and 17 in Swains Island. "Tokelau" means "north-northeast".

Politics of Tokelau

The politics of Tokelau takes place within a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency. The head of state of Tokelau is Queen Elizabeth II in right of her Realm of New Zealand, who is represented by an Administrator. The monarch is hereditary, the Administrator is appointed by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Southern Institute of Technology

Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is one of New Zealand’s largest institutes of technology, with 13,758 students in 2017 for a total of 4,922 EFTs.

The Tokelau national rugby league team represents Tokelau in rugby league football and first participated in international competition in 1986.

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2007 Tokelauan self-determination referendum

A referendum on self-determination was held in Tokelau on 20 October and on 22–24 October 2007, with the result being that self-governance was rejected. Had it been successful, the referendum would have changed Tokelau's status from an unincorporated New Zealand territory to a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, akin to the Cook Islands and Niue. However, the referendum required a two-thirds positive vote to pass, and the "yes" side fell short of the required total by 16 votes.

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Outline of Tokelau

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tokelau:

Foua Toloa Tokelauan politician

Foua Toloa was a Tokelauan politician who served as the Head of the Government of Tokelau, or Ulu, from 21 February 2009, to 21 February 2010. He was a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, and was a faipule on Fakaofo. As the office of Ulu rotates on an annual basis, Toloa resumed office on 21 February 2011. For a time in 2011-2012, he was also Tokelau's minister for Finance, Telecommunication, Energy and Transport. He died in California in 2015.

Aliki Kerisiano Kalolo, also commonly referred to as Keli Hiano Kalolo, is a Tokelauan politician who served as the Head of the Government of Tokelau, or Ulu, from February 2012 to February 2013. He is a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Education, Economic Development, Natural Resources and the Environment, prior to and then simultaneously to his leadership of the government. The office of Ulu rotates on an annual basis between the faipule of each of the country's three atolls; Kalolo, as faipule of Atafu, took office as Ulu for the first time in 2012.

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As prescribed in the Constitution of Tokelau, individual human rights are those found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reflected in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. When exercising these rights, there must be proper recognition of the rights of others and to the community as a whole. If an individual believes their rights have been breached they may go to the Council for the Ongoing Government who may make any appropriate order to protect that individual’s rights. There have been no such complaints to date.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "General Fono", Attachment 5, Government of Tokelau, 2010.