Fode enrolls 54,000 pupils

THE flexible open and distance education (Fode) has enrolled a total of 54,000 students nationwide this year, national Fode office principal Anthony Rayappan says.
“This is the highest ever enrolment in Fode’s history,” he said.
Rayappan said 35,000 students were enrolled last year, but the free education helped boost enrolment this year.
He said Fode was now partnering with secondary schools to offer Fode courses to students due to the increase in students.
“The total number of students will be given to the Education Department for funding to print and distribute resource materials for students nationwide,” he said.
“The first quarter Government funding was used to print and distribute resource materials.
“In fact, almost all the funding we got was used for printing and distribution.”
Rayappan said to save costs Fode planned to deliver online courses so that students could access materials online instead of spending so much on printing and distribution.
“The number of students with disabilities has also increased,” he said.
“In Port Moresby, we have 20 students with disabilities.”