One Laptop per Child pilot project promote in Solomon Islands

The South Pacific Community, SPC is promoting a pilot project in the Solomon Islands known as "One Laptop per Child", OLPC, linked to the existing Ministry of Education Distance Learning Centres Project being implemented by the People First Network.

The project will test a locally-designed model for the distribution and use of OLPC laptops.

In anticipation of this, the Ministry has been given a "B2" prototype unit that was displayed at the opening of Vuranimala Distance Learning Centre with children demonstrating the features.

The laptop was also a hit when shown to children at Henua School, in Rennell recently.

David Leemingin who is in-charge of the Distance Learning Centres Project says the project hopes Solomon Islands children will soon show the region how the OLPC laptops can provide them with a window to the world and marvelous new ways of learning, both in and outside the classroom.

The laptops used in the project are low cost, require low power and have high accessibility.

They are also very robust, require limited technical support and training and are therefore suitable for rural areas.

They also have features that encourage collaboration and are expected to improve many kinds of literacy including writing and numerical skills, information literacy and use of technology.

Source: SIBC