Two science laboratories at Beulah Adventist College in Tonga have been renovated and upgraded through generous donations.

Maveni Kaufononga, Trans-Pacific Union Mission president and college alumnus, recently opened the labs.

For more than two decades, Beulah Adventist College has used the science labs of institutions such as the University of the South Pacific, the Tonga Institute of Education, and other secondary schools.

Dr. Elisapesi Manson, education consultant for Adventist Schools in Tonga, said the absence of science labs has led to increased challenges in delivering quality science education, which has influenced learning outcomes in areas such as numeracy.

“Science labs provide opportunities for students to engage in the scientific inquiry process and learn how to organize and interpret data necessary to develop numeracy capability,” Dr. Manson said. “Also, science labs enhance the understanding of scientific concepts, effectively link theories to real contexts, and provide opportunities for hands-on learning experiences, paving the way for improved numeracy skills.”

Valued at nearly USD$60,000 ($A90,000), several donors collectively contributed to the labs’ refurbishments, updating them to a 21st-century standard. The major donor, Beulah alumni in Australia, funded 80 percent of the project. Support was also given by the Tonga Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Tongan government, church members, and friends in Tonga and abroad.

Dr. Manson said the opening of the new labs allows science teachers to have the equipment they need and chemicals for experiments. They also have computer facilities to prepare for their lessons, internet access for research, and smart TV screens that can be used for digital science simulations.

“I am so relieved I do not need to worry about asking other schools for equipment to do the necessary science experiments for my students,” one of the science teachers said.

The school will start using the new facilities this week, engaging in activities such as a tour of the science labs, quizzes, science exhibitions, and assessments.

“The rationale for science laboratories at Beulah Adventist College is premised on the philosophy of Adventist education: to provide quality learning where opportunities are provided for young people to develop spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially,” Dr. Manson said.

“By studying the sciences in laboratories, young people gain an insight into the complexity and purpose evident in nature, which reflect God’s intelligence and original design.”

The original article was published on the South Pacific Division news site, Adventist Record.