The Minister for Higher Education Research, Science and Technology and Sports Don Polye embarked on maximizing digitalization within the sector for the next five years.
Minister Polye highlighted that through digitalisation they can be able to connect and transform the higher and technical education sector through digitalisation of management and enhanced access through digital platforms.
Polye says the digitalisation roll out to provinces will provide an e – teaching and learning platform that will be accessible to all students and added that an aspect of this digitalisation has already been implemented as funding continue to remain a challenge. He said the department will venture into partnering with ICT service providers for affordable internet services for higher institutions.
Polye highlighted that he intends to take a phased approach within his ministry for the next five years that includes, the development of digitalisation strategy and implementation plan for the sector including PNG National Open University, to digitalise DHERST system and process function and implementation of Online application and selection system as well as the provision of internet services to cover at least 50 % of higher learning institutions.
Minister Polye said in order to implement this phased approach to digitalize the sector an investment of K81 million kina is required for a period of five years.
He added that given the digital transformation and health pandemic, digitization has to be considered a priority to improve teaching and learning in a secured environment.
