By DALCY LULUA
The Department of Education and the Office of Libraries and Archives (OLA) have announced the introduction of the Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning (RACHEL) device into schools across Papua New Guinea.
RACHEL is a portable, battery-powered unit that stores offline copies of educational websites and can wirelessly deliver content to tablets, laptops, and smartphones without requiring internet or data access. The device has already been deployed in more than 50 countries worldwide and is now being adopted in PNG to expand student access to books and digital resources.
Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra said RACHEL would provide significant benefits to schools, particularly secondary institutions.
“It costs a lot of money, but who says money is a problem with PNG? Yes, it can be a challenge, but it can also be affordable,” Dr. Kombra said. “We encourage schools, especially high schools, to have RACHEL installed in their libraries so students can access it.”
OLA Director General Dennis Bagelo confirmed that the program is being rolled out in partnership with donor agencies, provincial governments, and education authorities.
“There is a device called the RACHEL device. It has been launched and rolled out across provinces, and this program is very important,”
Mr. Bagelo said. “We are also collaborating with national universities, especially Unitech, which will host the program’s core.”
He said the initiative aligns with OLA’s wider strategy to establish public libraries across the country and improve internet access for schools under the National Education Blueprint.
The rollout of RACHEL is aimed at bridging the gap in access to learning resources, particularly in rural and remote areas where internet connectivity remains limited.