Papua New Guinea

Digital illiteracy is an enormous constraint to Papua New Guinea's growth as a nation, epitomised by the fact that almost none of the 3,535 primary schools across the country have permanent and functional digital learning infrastructure such as a computer lab. As such, students are entering high school, university and applying for jobs without digital fluency. Establishing primary school computer labs, our program aims to boost digital literacy across the country.

Since 2017, we have placed digital learning tools at the fingertips of more than 27,000 students by establishing twenty-eight pioneering computer labs in the Western Highlands. For almost all these students, and their teachers, this is their first active encounter with ICT tools. All users gain access to Niunet, a treasure trove of educational content, curated and produced by a remarkable Papua New Guinean start-up.

Teachers and principals are fundamental pieces of any educational pursuit and in PNG, a critical lack of digital literacy amongst educators hinders the growth of digital fluency. In partnership with Global Learner, we have developed the Digital Skills Passport, an interactive, and tailor-made digital teaching program which will provide teachers with vital skills in digital instruction.

With very low ICT skills across teaching cohorts in Papua New Guinea, more is required to transform infrastructure into impact. Our originally-produced, bilingual Digital Skills Guidebook guides teachers and students from digital illiteracy to fluency. Similarly, we are working on a program which will allow students to seek micro-credentials in digital competency.