Nine teaching colleges across the country received a boost to their Information and Communication Technology departments.
Dauli Teachers College, Enga Teachers College, Melanesian Nazarene Teachers College, Holy Trinity College, Balob Teachers College, Madang Teachers College, Gaulim Teachers College and St Peter Chanel Teachers College were proud beneficiaries of this upgrade, supported by the Australian government in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea.
The upgrade involved installation of a new computer lab for each college, connection of wireless internet, donation of tablets (mobile computers) and the installation of an eGranary digital library containing 32 million electronic books, journals, educational video clips and various teaching and learning content.
This support, worth over two and a half million Kina, is aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning in these provinces.
The ICT upgrade will enable teaching colleges to have better internet connectivity and will allow for ease in the flow of information and data to policy makers in Waigani.
This ICT upgrade completed recently was launched on Friday 25 May at Balob Teachers College in Lae, Morobe Province.
Australian High Commission’s Deputy Head of Mission, Ms Caitlin Wilson, was present to launch the ICT infrastructure upgrade.
“This boost will mean a better teaching and learning environment, and a quicker certifications process, allowing for faster progression into the workforce,” she said.
Ms Wilson also stressed the importance of working together across the sector to support better outcomes for students.
“Teachers colleges throughout the country have an important role in training teachers to educate Papua New Guinea’s children. Working together to improve the quality of education needs wisdom of the experienced, guidance from policy makers, grounding in community, bright minds of students and equally important – the resources to support learning development,” she said.
She reiterated that this investment by the Australian government is part of a broader partnership with the PNG Government in a range of other areas across the education sector.
Walipe Wingi, Education Secretary Morobe, thanked the Government and people of Australia for funding the ICT upgrade.
“My department is focusing on improving the quality of education in Papua New Guinea and we are grateful to the Australian government for their continuous support in PNG’s education sector.”