Tonga joined UNESCO on September 29, 1980. Covered by the UNESCO Office in Apia, Samoa, Tonga is particularly active in the Pacific region in the field of education. Currently, The country participates in the Education for All (EFA) Programme by organizing forums, naming national coordinators and preparing action plans.

As of September 2006, the country has 22 schools participating in the UNESCO’s Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet).