When completing a basic level of schooling is challenging due to harsh terrain and lack of roads, Flexible Open Distance Education offers new pathways for students to access a tertiary level.
Story by Tajs Jespersen
What would you do if you didn’t have a chance to complete your primary schooling?
What would you do if your grades were not good enough to continue your education?
For many students in Western Province, there has been no viable answer to these questions for many years, but, with the help of MAF, the Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE) program is aiming to change that.
“MAF planes make it easier for us to reach the unreached communities. That's something which we are so proud of,” said Philip Kongoi, principal of the FODE College in Balimo.
FODE is funded by the Sustainable Development PNG (SDP) and implemented in partnership with the Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) in Western Province. They have FODE Colleges in Balimo, Lake Murray, Morehead and Daru. Apart from those they have the education patrol program to reach the most isolated students who are not able to go to any of their colleges due to the tough terrain.
“So, most of the students go out from grade six and then they're just there in the village. These are the ones that we are targeting now with our patrol officers,” said Philip.
Each student is supplied with tablets and assignment papers that are brought to the rural areas via MAF.
“The course materials that they are going to be studying are all loaded into the tablets,” said Elizah Kevin, Principal of the FODE College in Lake Murray.
“SDP and KTF have facilitated solar equipment that allows students to have access to charging the tablets.”
About 170 students at the education patrol program started this year (2024). Next year we are looking at 400 students
Esther Waliah, a student under the FODE program in Lake Murray, is one of the recipients of the tablets.
“All those course materials are inside. So, when they give us the assignments, we go through the process inside and then answer the questions. It's useful,” said Esther. “I appreciate SDP and KTF because they have provided us with everything, we need for all the classes.”
The education patrol program started in 2024 and according to Philip Kongoi it has begun to show its impact.
“About 170 students at the education patrol program started this year (2024). Next year we are looking at 400 students,” said Philip. “We don't really consider the age group, so long as they have completed a certain level in education, like grade six, grade eight, grade ten, grade twelve, we are there to help them because they need that education.”
Gender and ability also don’t matter. In fact, SDP’s Director of Education Programs, Dr. Brad Shaw, says that FODE has also increased access to education for underrepresented communities, with a near-equal gender split and 11% of its students identifying some form of disability across all Western campuses.
The FODE program is initiated and funded by SDP and implemented in partnership with KTF in Western Province.
Watch the video to learn more about MAF's involvement with FODE.