On 8th November, 2024 Professor Bibhya Sharma the Head of School for the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics (STEMP) along with other colleagues joined the Fiji launch of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
The 2024 report, titled “Technology in Education – A Tool on Whose Terms?”, addresses both the potential and the unique challenges of integrating technology into Pacific education systems.
At the event, Professor Bibhya Sharma, delivered a Background Paper Author Reflection on the contributions to the report, sharing insights from various chapters.
His presentation explored key findings on the high costs of internet access, infrastructure gaps in rural areas and the importance of culturally relevant digital content for Pacific communities.
Professor Sharma emphasised the need for technology solutions tailored to the region’s specific challenges, ensuring they are both sustainable and equitable.
The event followed a productive discussions among attendees comprising of educators, ministries, policymakers and international organisation representatives on strategies for closing the digital divide in Pacific education.
The report’s recommendations included boosting local funding for tech resources, providing digital literacy training for educators and forming partnerships to improve connectivity in underserved areas.
STEMP’s involvement in the launch highlights its ongoing commitment to supporting inclusive, accessible education in the Pacific.
The discussions and insights exchanged underscored the collective effort needed to make technology in education a truly impactful tool for all Pacific learners.
GEM Gallery: https://www.usp.ac.fj/usp-stemp/gem-report-2024-gallery/
