In the highlands of Western Highlands Province, Kiripia Catholic Secondary School once made history by ranking among the nation’s top 11 schools and third in the province. This was a rare achievement for a rural institution. That milestone proved that quality education in remote areas is possible when vision and leadership come together.
Now, Tambul-Nebilyer District is seeking to take education to the next level through a proposed ICT Infrastructure Development Project. The initiative, championed by former Deputy Principal Tom Ruska, goes beyond supplying computers and internet access. It is designed to modernize school management and transform student learning in the digital age.
The project includes both offline and online e-libraries, allowing students in the remotest valleys to access the same knowledge as their peers in urban centres. It also introduces attendance and behaviour monitoring systems, accountability tools for teachers and students, and data-driven administration to address long-standing management challenges in rural schools.
The proposal has already won strong backing. Education Minister Hon. Lucas Dawa Dekena has endorsed it and requested funding from National Planning Minister Hon. Sir Ano Pala. Local MP and Commerce & Industry Minister Hon. Win Bakri Daki has also pledged support towards this initiative.
Despite these endorsements, the project remains stalled in Waigani, with no funding released to date.
The delay has sparked concern among community leaders, who questioned, why approved community-driven initiatives are left waiting while so-called “paper projects” continue to consume public funds. Advocates argue that ICT in education is not a luxury but a necessity if Papua New Guinea is to compete in the regional and global knowledge economy.
“If implemented, this project could become a model for other districts, showing that rural areas are not waiting to be left behind but are ready to lead,” Mr. Ruska said.
Supporters of the initiative are calling on the government to act swiftly, honour its commitments, and release the funds needed to bring the project to life.
For Tambul-Nebilyer, the message is clear: the future cannot wait in Waigani.