THE success of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) pilot project in the country has impressed supporters and partners that they are now planning to extend it to other communities.
Michael Hutak, Regional Director Oceania for One Laptop Per Child (OLCP) said this yesterday in an interview with Solomon Star.
Mr Huta, who left yesterday, was in the country for a week.
He left having satisfied with the benefits the project had given to some 300 children in the rural areas.
While here, he met with the Ministry of Education as well as reps from development partners, including AUSAid and NZAid.
During the meetings, they discussed the report on the evaluation of the OLPC project in Marovo Lagoon.
“I welcome the positive benefit that this pilot project had bring to the people and children of Marovo in the three villages mainly Patukae, Sombiro and Batuna,” he said.
He acknowledge the vision, understanding and the co-operation of the outgoing government, especially the caretaker Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua and the caretaker Education Minister Matthew Wale for recognising and supporting the project since its inception.
“I’m encouraged by the commitment to improve the quality of basic education of all Solomon Islands children.
“And I look forward to working with the new government on bringing on the program to as many children as possible in the coming years,” he said.
The report carried out by the Ministry of Education surveyed parents, teachers, principals and children in the pilot project and all expressed aexcitement about the benefits that OLPC has brought.
The impact of the project had resulted in more children attending schools and their academic results have been positive, he said.
OLPC had partnered with the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC) who have been working in 17 Pacific countries.
The project had enabled remote school children to access internet in the rural communities.
The recent World Bank report revealed that the project had showed aboost in economic growth performance.
Mr Hutak is now working with other partners to extend OLPC project to other communities in the country.
The OLPC initiative was first introduced in 2008 and was successfully completed in September last year.
Early this year a report was produced which highlighted the success of the project to the rural schools and children.
By MOFFAT MAMU
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