Bau District School became the first primary school in Fiji to receive 10 GETEK laptops, a router and one year free internet connection under the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation 50/50 policy programme. Launched a month ago, the new initiative by the foundation allows schools to actively participate in the development of students learning by raising 50% of the cost of equipment. “This gives them a sense of ownership and gets teachers more involved with the sustainability of school programmes” says Foundation executive Ambalika Kutty.
The Foundation is looking to register 20 schools under the programme and monitor the outcomes and feedbacks from the schools before handing out more. The foundation has been sponsoring schools under its DEAP (Duke of Edinburg Awards Programme) and Computer programme and with this new initiative, it adds more mobile resources for schools at an affordable price with both teachers and students benefiting. Less than a 5 minute boat ride from Bau landing, the team from Vodafone Foundation were graced with the presence of Ratu Apenisa Cakobau who not only took the pilot programme under the school ownership but also kindly hosted the team with a short tour of the chiefly island. A timely addition to school resources, the laptops will be housed in the newly built library and resource centre which was officially opened on Saturday 20th July.
Head teacher for the school Mr. Jolame Delai thanked the Foundation for its continued effort to assist schools with getting connected to the info-tech world. The availability of internet will allow the students to get information readily available for their research projects. Adding to this he also said that teachers would now find it easy to help students with understanding the concepts of lessons learnt through visual aid and students having more fun with classroom activities. Vodafone ATH Foundation is working towards assisting the needy schools to further enhance their facilities for educational development in Fiji.
VODAFONE