By DALCY LULUA
A MEMORANDUM of Agreement (MoA) has been signed between the National Information and Communication Authority (NICTA) and the Department of Education (DoE) on Wednesday.
The partnership between the two statutory authorities signifies a start in the roll-out of Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE) services online to six (6) pilot project sites in the country.
The agreement is a result of an earlier trial run by the department on the web-based School and Learning Management System (SLMS) conducted between March and May in Port Moresby.
From this result, the DoE has now reached out to NICTA through its Universal Access and Services (UAS) Scheme to promote long-term socio-economic development in PNG.
In consultation with NICTA’s UAS, the MoA has come about extending this service throughout the country.The pilot project will be targeting 3700 students at an estimated cost of K600,000 for a period of two years.The pilot centres are Central, NCD, Daru, Lae, Goroka and Tari.
The project will be co-funded by the Universal Access Fund which is administered by the UAS Scheme and DoE. Through the agreement, NICTA will be responsible for content digitalisation, broadband connectivity, training and smart devices, while DoE will be responsible for information technology audit, infrastructure, power, skill staff, administration, security and the sustainability of the project.
NICTA Chairman Noel Mobiha said: “There’s about 3700 students and we would see an increase with this partnership.
“The NICTA board is more than willing to help.”NICTA Chief Executive Officer Kila Gulo said: “This is the start of bigger things and we will extend it from there.” “We are excited to partner the DoE and FODE in the government’s mission of “living no one behind through education” so we will support the department and explore further collaboration opportunities.”Dr Kombra said DoE is privileged and to partner with NICTA.
