Solomon Islands : Information and Communication Technology for Better Education Services

Education / Education sector development

Information and communication technology / ICT industries and ICT-enabled services

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the development of submarine optical fiber cable systems (SCS) in Solomon Islands where access to affordable telecommunications particularly high-speed (broadband) internet is low due to dependence on satellite connectivity. Once SCS is established, wholesale bandwidth prices are expected to halve, leading to a conservatively estimated retail price reduction of 20%.

The SCS will impact the three large islands central areas (Honiara, Auki, and Gizo) most significantly. It is as yet unclear how the cable will influence connectivity in the most remote/rural areas on the periphery islands in the country. However, mobile networks have grown rapidly following deregulation 2 years ago, and local practices for data dissemination have emerged. Mobile phones can be an important conduit to broaden utilization of ICT. The interest of mobile companies to expand the number of cell sites that can tap into microwave signals from SCS presents an opportunity to increase connectivity to outer islands in the country. Solomon Islands already have approximately 70% mobile services coverage which can provide useful lessons and inputs to the overall ICT plan.

1. Development and implementation of a gender inclusive ICT Plan linking MEHRD, provincial EAs and Schools

2. Identification of ICT hardware options, development of suitable applications and piloting their use in rural/remote areas, and capacity building

3. Comprehensive assessment study conducted on how enhanced access to ICT can add value to the Distance and Flexible Learning (DFL)

4. Convening an ICT4E Workshop/forum to share findings and lessons learned of aforementioned components

1. The firm has engaged with the NEAP Planning team and consultant and are working to include Gender inclusive ICTs in a more cross cutting and strategic way in the ESF and NEAP documents being prepared.

2. The firm has identified the following options for piloting: (I) 5 pilot schools using the Kio Kit with 40 tablets and a special Solomons build of teaching and learning resources linked to the Syllabus. Note the 5 schools have already had solar power installed and a laptop and printer are being delivered to each school in March; (ii) Equipping School Inspectors with 10 tablets to conduct their Whole of School survey with the data being automatically uploaded to SIEMIS to cross check data provided by schools; (iii) Piloting SMS data collection and presentation with the Education Authority (EA) section and the 30 EAs; (iv) Trialling an In-School Professional Development course delivered on a Flash Drive or other ICT device, most likely focussing on improving literacy teaching. Capacity building has been done through three training workshops in March, delivered to most operational divisions of MEHRD, but particularly to the Ifollowing units: Inspection Services, Teaching and Learning/Curriculum Development, EA Management, Information Services/SIEMIS, International, CESS/School Resources. Also, approximately 30 MEHRD staff has been trained in the areas of: Teaching and Learning using ICTs, Data collection with ICTs, Digital Content and the Curriculum. Demonstrations of the KIO kit were made during the training with most agreeing it would be a good to pilot.

An ICT4BE web portal has been published in the MEHRD web page and all relevant information is being placed on the portal. An ICT readiness survey has been conducted and findings hared with MEHRD.