The letter signed by Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training, which apparently bans girls from playing sports like rugby and boxing in all government schools, sparks outrage in the sports community.
Shockingly, on March 15 the letter informed staff at Tonga High School that the girls shouldn’t be playing such sports because it goes against young women’s dignity and Tongan culture and traditions.
The ruling emerged after a member of Tonga High School’s girls tag rugby team revealed that they had been withdrawn from a competition last week because they were girls.
The school’s principal then confirmed that she had received “direction” from the ministry telling her to stop her female students from playing rugby. The letter also banned female boxing.
Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training confirmed that it had issued the edict, in order to “preserve the dignity of Tongan women and hold on to Tongan cultural values”.
The official letter has not gone down well with sports administrators and politicians, who see it as a blow to women’s rights.
Fehoko Tu’ivai, president of the Tonga Women’s Rugby Association, told “How can we teach our girls to be independent when we keep making choices for them?”
Women’s rights advocate ‘Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said that it would further reinforce the stereotype that sports are only for boys. “It is really just taking us back from all the work we have done so far in trying to achieve and bring forward gender equality in Tonga.”
Tonga’s women’s sevens coach Hoko Tuivai said she respected traditions and culture but times were changing.
Ms Tuivai said “It’s just closing doors, closing all opportunities for women especially leading up to the Pacific Games and Olympics, as we have set our path to work towards the 2020 Olympics and here in Tonga, women’s rugby has a bigger chance to reach those international competitions than men.”
Even New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has expressed her disapproval, saying “I would encourage all the young women to engage in whatever sporting code they are interested in.”
>Juthy Saha
Anger at Tonga over Women's Ban from Rugby and Boxing
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