The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture (MESC) this week received another major consignment of equipment destined for primary and secondary schools across Samoa as part of a UNESCO-coordinated and Government of Japan-funded project focusing on the integration of information communication technologies (ICT) in education.
The equipment – 660 Apple iPad tablet devices together with various accessories which will be used to increase access to online learning activities in classrooms across 20 schools – is worth WST 697,374.07 (USD 257,916.00) and forms part of a larger procurement of equipment totaling nearly WST 1,375,000.00 (USD 500,000).
Receiving the equipment on behalf of MESC was CEO Aeau Christopher Hazelman, who joined UNESCO Education Programme Specialist and Officer in Charge, Ms. Aya Aoki in a formal handover ceremony witnessed by his Excellency Keisuke Senta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Japan in Samoa.
The project, ICT in Education in Samoa: Developing Resilient Education System through Online and Multimedia as the Countermeasure against COVID-19 Pandemic is supported by the Government of Japan with funding of WST 2,584,109.71 (USD 954,545) and technical assistance from UNESCO for the implementation of the project over 24 months.
The ICT in Education in Samoa project will support 20 primary and secondary schools which are marginalized due to geographical location, low socio-economic status, have gender imbalance, and include children with learning disabilities. In particular, the project seeks to bridge thedigital-divide in education and ensure that the most vulnerable students are not left behind.
The project also support connecting students, teachers and schools with MESC’s Lifelong Learning Lab (MILLL) and learning management platform with resources.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, MESC CEO Mr. Christopher Hazelman stated “We are grateful for the ICT in Education project for providing students and teachers across Samoa with access to world-class ICT equipment which will be used to enhance education as well as foster greater inclusion with students with disabilities.
These tablet devices together with other equipment being provided will help diversify and enrich learning and teaching in our schools, and will also enable our students to develop the digital skills which are essential for living and working in the 21st century.”
