IEA signs deal to utilise undersea internet cable

THE International Education Agency (IEA) aims to capitalise on the undersea internet cable that will link Papua New Guinea and Australia.
The agency on Monday announced the signing of a contract to develop a vision to make the most of the cable which would connect Port Moresby with Sydney.
IEA will work with design and technology company Portable Australia Pty Ltd to explore a future vision of classrooms enhanced by technology and connectivity.
IEA chief executive Anthony Morgan and Portable Australia Simon Goodrich finalised the contract in Melbourne last Friday.
At the signing of the contract, Morgan said that this would open up new opportunities for how students at IEA schools learn.
“We look forward to being able to provide our provincial schools with greater expertise and to the professional learning opportunities this will open up for IEA teachers,” he said.
Morgan said the improved net accessibility would also benefit teachers, staff and high achieving students in their provincial schools.
He said Portable Australia were selected from a large and highly skilled field of applicants.
The company’s proven expertise in delivering technology solutions to major Australian school systems was a major factor in taking them on.
“What we want to go on in the classroom should dictate the technology, not the other way around.”
Goodrich said the researchers, designers and technologists at Portable were excited to work with the IEA to define a future vision for how technology could best help teachers and students in PNG and the Pacific region.
Meanwhile, the Koroboro International School in Port Moresby will run a “Festival of learning” in late August to help IEA teachers and leaders explore the possibilities the upgrade would open up for them.
Portable executives are expected to arrive in the country shortly to meet with major telecommunication leaders and providers.