Project News

The EQUITV project aims to improve teaching and learning quality through the EQUITV program in primary school. As for the impact evaluation, we conduct monitoring for utilization of the program.

From March to April in 2015, Monitoring workshops were held in three targeted provinces; Central Province, National Capital District (NCD) and East New Britain Province (ENBP). Head teachers and TV receiving teachers have participated at the workshop, and data about utilizing the EQUITV program was collected from them. Aside from the data collection, the participants shared their experience of using the program, their challenges and impact on students.

Equipment and material procurement are the key factors of installation of TV lessons. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), however, access to electricity is also a significant issue for TV lessons. Because of the rugged terrains of the country, many schools do not have electricity supply and they need to install a generator, solar power or other power sources.

The monitoring survey found positive results in that schools which purchased electronic equipment or fuel for generator by their own school budget for TV lessons, the percentage of students' attendance was increased and the quality of teaching skills is improved through TV lessons.^[1] Tangible impact on students' scholastic ability such as the increment of the percentage of students who go on to high school and better results of National Exam or school exams are also identified. For instance, Graph1 shows a comparison of G8 National Examination result in 2014 between average of all students in Central Province and three schools which were utilizing TV lessons. The three schools achieved higher scores than the average score of the province. Furthermore, all students in Launakalana and Matanatou and 80% students in Moreguina got selected to G9 in high school.

Graph 1 G8 National Examination result in 2014 in Central Province

The monitoring workshop aims not only at data collection, but also sharing those positive results and experiences of the EQUITV program to encourage schools which have not implemented or stopped utilizing the program to restart or start it.

According to the follow-up survey, after the workshop 44% of the schools which stopped using or never started the EQUITV, have started or restarted the EQUITV program. Furthermore, the number of schools which prepare to implement the program has risen.

The school budget are not abundant in PNG, however, schools try their best as much as they can to provide better education to their students. Sometimes schools give up to utilize the program because of their budget problems, however, when they face difficulties, they are encouraged and find break through from other schools' experiences and know-how or positive impact on the students.

Monitoring is one of the valuable opportunities to encourage schools to use the program. Therefore project puts a great deal of effort into monitoring activities.

Answering the monitoring survey sheet facilitated by Yamachika JICA expert (Central Province)

Extracting challenges of installation of EQUITV program (Central Province)

Group discussion about positive impact of the program and their challenges (NCD)

Presentation about their challenges and solutions for EQUITV program installation (NCD)