New Ireland hubs prepare for FODE digital shift
New Ireland is preparing its outer-island and rural study centers to deploy the Flexible Open and Distance Education [FODE] new nationwide digital learning system.
Coordinators and supervisors from across the province recently concluded a three-day digital transformation workshop in Kavieng to master the online platform.
The system allows students to register, access learning modules, and complete assessments entirely online.
New Ireland provincial FODE coordinator Douglas Kumin said the technological shift was vital for the province, given the ongoing logistical challenges of transporting physical learning materials to isolated maritime communities.
Kumin confirmed that center heads from the Kavieng provincial headquarters, alongside key external hubs including Lihir, Palie, Warangansau, Namatanai, Boliu, and Danu, were being trained to manage the platform.
The specialized training is being conducted ahead of the system's full regional student implementation by 2027.
"The online platform will solve many of the issues we have faced in the past, including missing marks and delays in processing assessments," Kumin said. "Students' results will be recorded directly in the system, improving the accuracy and integrity of assessments."
Kumin said approximately 100,000 students enrolling in FODE nationwide every year and New Ireland’s remote student base stood to benefit immensely from automated data tracking.
Workshop facilitator Anna Lisa Cale explained that the infrastructure combined an online registration portal, an Electronic Learning Management System [LMS], and a Student Information Management System [SIMS].
"The Learning Management System allows students to learn online, while the online registration and Student Information Management System capture student information in real time, making our services more efficient," Cale said.
Kumin added that the digital upgrade aimed to expand access to quality education, ensuring that even the most isolated students in the province could benefit from flexible learning through modern technology.