[OLPC-Oceania] Marovo pioneers a new "Pacific way" on ICT in Education

[Michael Hutak]

Solomons' Marovo pioneers a new "Pacific
way"<http://olpcoceania.blogspot.com/2010/12/decade-ago-solomon-islands-was-still.html>
from OLPC Oceania<http://www.google.com.au/reader/view/feed/http%3A%2F%2Folpcoceania.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault>
by
Michael Hutak

A decade ago, the Solomon Islands was still a nation wracked by civil war.
Today, inspiring stories of empowerment and rejuvenation are to be found,
such as that among the communities of the country's remote Marovo
Lagoon<http://www.mapsouthpacific.com/solomons/marovo-lagoon-map.html>in
Western Province. December 2010 marks 10 years since the people of
this
beautiful and fragile environment accessed email for the first time, via the
ground-breaking People First
Network<http://www.usp.ac.fj/jica/ict_research/documents/pdf_files/pfnet_report.pdf>(PFNet).

Today, Marovo is buzzing with innovative ICT-for-education projects which
are motivating students, connecting people, empowering communities and
pointing to the possibilities of a new "Pacific way" on education. Grass
roots communities are driving these projects with support and assistance
from their national government and its partners in development in the
bilateral, regional, non-profit and private sectors.

   - Primary schools in the villages of Patukae, Batuna and
Sombiro<http://wiki.laptop.org/images/2/21/Press_release_30Jul08.pdf>have
been using XO laptops donated by the OLPC Foundation since 2008.
   - Distance Learning
Centres<http://www.unescobkk.org/education/ict/online-resources/databases/ict-in-education-database/item/article/solomon-islands-distance-learning-centres-project/>,
   funded by the EU, have connected rural community high schools like Patukae
   since 2006.
   - The community can access VSAT broadband in the area via the Pacific
   Rural Internet Connectivity System (PACRICS), seed-funded by AusAID, ongoing
   funding from the Asian Development Bank and implemented by the Secretariat
   of the Pacific Community, supported by the UEPI Resort and Marovo
   Sustainable Timbers.
   - Patukae High School was in September 2010 the recipient of donated
   computers and personal training from the Scots College, Sydney, one of
   Australia's oldest schools.
   - The Marovo Reef and Rainforest Wiki Project see previous post or find
   out more here<http://wikieducator.org/Patukae_College/OER_Reef_and_Rainforest_wiki_in_Marovo_Language>
   .

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-- 
-- 
Michael Hutak
Director, Oceania
One Laptop per Child
www.laptop.org
http://olpcoceania.blogspot.com
--------
Skype: michael.hutak
Cell: +61 412 001 052
Fax: +61 2 8008 1616
Web: www.hutak.com
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