School gets internet service

By MOUA OMOA
STUDENTS at Gordon Secon­dary School now have free and easy access to the internet to do their work and research, thanks to Telikom Foundation and assistance from the Indian Association in Port Moresby under the “clean IT” programme.
Speaking at the launching last Friday, Telikom Foundation CEO Brian Sam said the students could now use internet technology to further their skills and knowledge.
“We bring to you the power of information that can help you succeed in life,” he said.
“Gordon Secondary is one of the top schools in the country and, with this technological tool, it will position you equal to any secondary school student in Australia, the US and Britain where you can access the same educational information as it gives you the power to do well and succeed,” Sam said.
The Indian Association donated five laptops to the school and representative Francis Saju said they were delighted to work with the foundation to contribute towards the development of education in the country.
Saju said students would be able to access the latest information through the internet.
“Internet access is very expensive in PNG, many students can’t afford to go to an internet café to access the internet for research purposes. But now we are happy that it is in the school and easily accessible to all students,” Saju said.
Gordon Secondary now have 55 computers hooked up to high speed broadband internet restricted to educational programmes, including Wikipedia and Britannica
encyclopedia.
Principal Sam Lora said the school was one of the selected schools to trial the ‘clean IT’ programme and thanked the foundation and the Indian Association for the formal launching.
He said it was an early Christmas present for the school and their timely assistance would help with the teaching and learning programmes in the
school.
“The programme is an amazing initiative that has been brought to the school where students can access updated theories and facts.
“It is also a back-up for the library and gives capacity to learning,” said student representative William Kasai.
Since rolling out the programme this year, Telikom Foundation has covered 13 schools and these would pay K150 per month for four gigabytes broadband service.