Enhancing Quality In Teaching Through TV Program in Papua New Guinea (EQUITV Phase 1)

Papua New Guinea is an archipelago with remote and isolated islands. In these remote areas, the quality and quantity of education is distinctly lacking. The Government of PNG has recognized the necessity of improving the situation, and in 1993 the Department of Education (DOE) began working on educational reforms. In 1994 the Department instituted the “Education Development Plan 1995-2004,” which had its emphasis on the provision of the opportunities of taking nine years of basic education to all children.

With this background described above, the DOE has been using radio and TV materials as important teaching methods to compensate for qualitative and quantitative shortcomings in basic educational fields in remote areas. In 2005, IC Net was commissioned to carry out the Project for Enhancing Quality In Teaching Through TV Program (EQUITV Phase 1).  The purpose was to improve the Quality of classroom teaching in the project schools through the appropriate use, application, introduction and regular delivery of distance education utilizing TV program.

During the 3 years of implementation, IC Net produced Grade 8 TV programs (208), developed a TV Teacher’s Handbook and TV Student’s Worksheet. These materials contributed to the teaching and learning in receiving schools. The number of school students receiving this form of education increased year by year: 2885 in 2006 (Grade 8), 2817 in 2007 (Grade 8); and 5,492 in 2008 (Grade 7 and 8). The Phase 1 of the EQUITV project established two EQUITV model and awareness provinces and aimed to improve classroom teaching through the utilization of TV programs in target schools.