Papua New Guinea

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ACROSS PNG

Papua New Guinea is facing a significant digital divide due to the lack of infrastructure, poor connectivity, and limited access to digital technology in remote and rural areas. This digital divide hinders economic development, limits access to education and healthcare, and weakens the country's ability to compete in the global digital economy. Addressing the digital divide is crucial to promoting social and economic inclusion in Papua New Guinea.

Since 2017, our Digital Infrastructure Program has installed 269 ground-breaking digital classrooms in Papua New Guinean primary schools with a further 160 scheduled for completion in 2024. These are the first of their kind anywhere across the 3,500 primary schools in Papua New Guinea and benefit approximately 95,000 students and teachers, 90% of whom have never used a computer in their lives.

Beyond 15 desktop computers and operating software, the standard program output also includes an originally developed Digital Skills Passport, which provides vital digital competency training material for teachers. Partnering with Niunet PNG, we also provide an unique offline Internet experience which offers beneficiaries access to 6.3 million pieces of educational content in a safe, curated learning environment, where once only a shelf of outdated books was available for students.

A quality education can only be digital in today’s world and by installing a new computer lab every 48 hours, LiteHaus International is filling a critical resource gap in Papua New Guinea’s education sector.

'Lab-In-A-Box'

The digital world belongs to everyone and we cannot leave anyone behind. But what about the students whose schools do not have electricity or even a classroom. Our recent innovation, Lab-In-A-Box, is portable digital classroom solution for any conditions.

This is the digital world, anywhere for everyone.

Coming Soon

Transforming Education: LiteHaus International's Impact in Papua New Guinea

When LiteHaus International started in 2017, few of the 3,500 schools in PNG had quality digital learning infrastructure. Aviamp Primary School in rural Jiwaka was one of them until LiteHaus International stepped in with Deloitte and Sir Brian Bell Foundation to install a computer lab. Since then, the school has achieved remarkable outcomes, graduating hundreds of its students and teachers through digital skills training with three classes each day, every day. We have now supported 223 schools across 15 provinces with digital learning tools and opportunities.

Watch Aviamp Primary School story

Enabling Digital Futures for a Generation of Future Leaders

Through our Digital Infrastructure Program, we are establishing the first functional primary school computer labs in Papua New Guinea. In March 2021, we shipped our first container laden with digital devices to the Western Highlands Province. Through this project alone, 18,000 future leaders were given digital learning opportunities and equipped with twenty-first century skills.

Watch the ABC Coverage

Empowering Women in the Digital Age

At LiteHaus International, we recognise that digital inequality continues to impact women and girls disproportionately. In this video, we celebrate the progress made towards gender equity in the digital age by highlighting the inspiring work of two school inspectors in Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea. Watch our interview with Rosemary and Bainam as they share their journey towards creating positive change in their communities. We're proud to have completed 12 primary school computer labs in Chimbu and provided almost 50,000 women and girls access to LiteHaus digital classrooms nationwide.

WATCH ROSEMARY AND BAINAM INTERVIEW

Building Digital Capabilities in Papua New Guinea

Since 2017, LiteHaus International has been dedicated to delivering quality digital education to Papua New Guinea's students, addressing the digital divide in a country where 95% of schools lack digital infrastructure. We've made significant strides, establishing 189 digital classrooms with 15 to 30 computers, word processing software, and self-guided digital literacy. In 2022, our Digital Infrastructure Program gained global recognition by winning the One Young World Lead 2030 Challenge for Sustainable Development Goal 4. In 2023, we were honoured at the SDG Digital Gamechanger Awards at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for our impactful work in digital infrastructure.

WATCH OUR RECENT PROJECTS IN PNG

INSIDE A DIGITAL CLASSROOM

THE FIRST TOUCH

Our research shows that 85% of students across PNG have never used a computer before they enter a LiteHaus International digital classroom.

Their digital learning journey begins with discussions about the possibilities of the tools that sit beneath their fingertips. Before long students and teachers are taken through the fundamentals of digital competency.

HONING DIGITAL SKILLS

Every computer we install comes with a lifetime subscription to the wonders of Niunet, a PNG-built e-library which holds over 6.3 million educational articles, including the entire off Wikipedia.

This student here in Western Highlands Province is working on mastering the keyboard through our Digital Skills Passport, developed in partnership with iamglobalcitizen.

LiteHaus International digital learning in Papua New Guinea

LEARNING TOGETHER

Our program in PNG is delivered entirely by locals who appreciate that infrastructure does not guarantee impact. We assist schools with training, technical support and replacing devices three years post-installation.

We are constantly looking for new teaching and learning content to share on the computers, taking suggestions from our partner schools.