Dr. ‘Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki, a renowned Tongan educator and former Minister for Education, Women’s Affairs, and Culture, has passed away at the age of 78.
Dr. Taufe‘ulungaki dedicated over three decades to Tonga’s education sector, serving as a teacher, school principal, and curriculum developer. She later joined the University of the South Pacific (USP) in 1999, where she became Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Graduate Affairs in 2006.
She also contributed to Tonga’s political landscape, serving on committees focused on constitutional and political reform, including the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission in 2009. “Our role was to ensure that Tonga’s governance structure reflected democratic principles while respecting cultural traditions,” she said during her tenure.
Appointed as Minister for Education, Women’s Affairs, and Culture in 2011, Dr. Taufe‘ulungaki emphasized contextualizing Tonga’s curricula to its cultural and societal needs while embracing global trends.
Her achievements included designing the Tonga Education Policy Framework 2004–2019 and championing the safeguarding of Tonga’s cultural heritage.
Her recent roles included serving as Pro Vice-Chancellor at Christ’s University in Pacific until mid-2024.
Appointed to Tonga’s Privy Council in 2022, she resigned earlier this year due to health issues.