School Networking in the Pacific Island States
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THE COMMONWEALTH OF LEARNING School Networking in the Pacific Island States An Environmental Scan and Plan for the Establishment of Schoolnets for the Pacific Island States Sponsored by The Commonwealth of Learning April 2002 FINAL REPORT Organised by: The Commonwealth of Learning Supported by: The Commonwealth of Learning Report prepared by: Denis Brandjes, Johannesburg, South Africa © The Commonwealth of Learning Published by: The Commonwealth of Learning Tel: 604 775 8200 1285 West Broadway, Suite 600 Fax: 604 775 8210 Vancouver, BC V6H 3X8 Email: [email protected] CANADA SCHOOL NETWORKING IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND STATES AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN AND PLAN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOLNETS FOR THE PACIFIC ISLAND STATES PREPARED FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF LEARNING VANCOUVER, CANADA WWW.COL.ORG BY DENIS BRANDJES JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA [email protected] APRIL 2002 CONTENTS PHOTOGRAPHS AND IMAGES .............................................................................................................. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................... 4 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................... 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. 6 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 7 OBSERVATIONS..........................................................................................................................................10 RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................................................23 REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................................33 THE AUTHOR ..............................................................................................................................................34 ANNEXURE A – TERMS OF REFERENCE........................................................................................35 ANNEXURE B – KIRIBATI COUNTRY PROFILE...........................................................................37 ANNEXURE C – NAURU COUNTRY PROFILE...............................................................................48 ANNEXURE D – SAMOA COUNTRY PROFILE ..............................................................................55 ANNEXURE E – TONGA COUNTRY PROFILE..............................................................................65 ANNEXURE F – VANUATU COUNTRY PROFILE.........................................................................75 ANNEXURE G – USP INTERVIEW ......................................................................................................86 ANNEXURE H – PACIFIC ISLANDS NETWORK............................................................................87 ANNEXURE I – ICT SPONSORS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.....................................................90 ANNEXURE J – DRAFT PACIFIC ISLANDS REGIONAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHOLOGIES STRATEGIC PLAN ...........................................................94 SCHOOL NETWORKING IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND STATES 2 PHOTOGRAPHS AND IMAGES Cover Page Photo: Onesua Presbyterian College, Efate, Vanuatu Image 1: Nauru College.................................................................................................................................... 4 Image 2: Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati, from the air ............................................................................................... 5 Image 3: Children at play in lagoon, Tarawa, Kiribati................................................................................. 6 Image 4: Moroni High School, Tarawa, Kiribati.......................................................................................... 9 Image 5: South Pacific Regional Map ..........................................................................................................10 Image 6: Namamanuca Primary School, Fiji Islands.................................................................................12 Image 7: Onesua Presbyterian College, Efate, Vanuatu............................................................................13 Image 8: National University of Samoa, Apia, Samoa ..............................................................................15 Image 9: USP VSAT Network Map.............................................................................................................17 Image 10: KGV EBS Secondary School, South Tarawa, Kiribati...........................................................18 Image 11: Richard Lewis, Principal and Mr. Venos Agege, Teacher, Nauru College, Nauru.............19 Image 12: Mr. Reupena Rimoni, Headmaster, Samoa College, Apia, Samoa........................................20 Image 13: Library, Tonga Institute of Education, Tongatapu, Tonga....................................................21 Image 14: Mr. John Niroa, Principal, Malapoa College, Port Vila ..........................................................22 Image 15: Primary School, Apia, Samoa......................................................................................................26 Image 16: Children at Central Primary School, Port Vila, Vanuatu........................................................28 Image 17: Nauru Shoreline ............................................................................................................................32 Image 18: Satellite Dish at Tonga Communications Corporation ..........................................................33 SCHOOL NETWORKING IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND STATES 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In completing this study, I wish to acknowledge: • The support of Mr. Vis Naidoo (supervising) and Patricia Schlicht (travel and administrative arrangements), both of The Commonwealth of Learning (COL). • Representatives of Ministries/Departments of Education in the various countries. In particular, Mr. Temaia Ereata (Kiribati), Mr. Baron Waqa (Nauru), Mr. Levaopolo Tupae Esera (Samoa), Mrs. Peaua Tu'ipulotu Heimuli (Tonga) and Mr. Johnny Marango (Vanuatu) for making time and resources available to facilitate interviews and site visits in each of the countries. • Prof. Rajesh Chandra of the University of the South Pacific (USP) for granting interview time and commenting on the process. • Dr. James F. McDivitt of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), Hawaii Division, for valuable comments and collaboration in providing a way forward. The Pacific Islands Network (PIN) is an initiative of the UNA-USA Hawaii Division. Image 1: Nauru College SCHOOL NETWORKING IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND STATES 4 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank ASP Associated Schools Project (of UNESCO) COL The Commonwealth of Learning DFID Department for International Development (of the United Kingdom) EU European Union GDP Gross domestic product ICT Information and Communication Technology iEARN International Education and Resource Network ISP Internet service provider KTC Kiribati Teachers College LDC Least Developed Countries NUS National University of Samoa ODL Open and distance learning PICT Pacific Island Countries and Territories PIFS Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat PIN Pacific Islands Network PITA Pacific Island Telecommunications Association PNG Papua New Guinea PTC Pacific Telecommunications Council SOPAC South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community TCC Tonga Communications Corporation TVL Telecom Vanuatu Limited TTI The Technical Institute (Kiribati) UNA-USA United Nations Association of the United States of America UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization USP University of the South Pacific Image 2: Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati, from the air SCHOOL NETWORKING IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND STATES 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is the result of a study focused on the establishment and promotion of school networking agencies (schoolnets) in the Pacific island states. The Commonwealth of Learning, based in Vancouver, Canada, commissioned the study. The task comprises an environmental scan and feasibility study leading to a proposal for the development of school networking in the region. The complete Terms of Reference for this study are attached as Annexure A. The methodology includes visits to six Pacific island states, namely Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Fiji, in August 2001. The participating countries exclude Fiji, although it was visited due to the location there of the University of the South Pacific (USP), which is an important regional entity. The individual state visits were each completed in several days, and entailed meetings and discussions with education ministry officials and representatives, corporations involved in information and communication technology (ICT), such as Internet service providers (ISPs), telecommunications providers and power utilities, organisations such as UNESCO, educational institutions such as USP and the National University of Samoa, and schools. The findings from the state visits are presented in conjunction with wider research and discussions with relevant stakeholders. The report includes a proposed way forward for the development of school networking