Schools in Hagen Central to benefit from School Digital Connectivity Program

Four MPs of Western Highlands: Win Bakri Daki (Second from Right in white coat), Tambul Nebilyer MP & Minister for Commerce and Industry, Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa, Hagen Open MP and SOE Minister William Duma, and Mul Baiyer MP & Vice Minister Police posing along with the board and management of PNG DataCo with the six schools in the background. The six secondary and vocational schools each received 13 laptops for their teaching and learning with WiFi access points and filtering devices

Six secondary and vocational schools in the Hagen Central Electorate of Western Highlands will now benefit from the School Digital Connectivity Program.

This Program is aligned with the Government's Digital Transformation Agenda, which promotes equitable access to digital resources and supports ICT integration in education.

After its recent launch in Jiwaka Province for six schools, the Mt Hagen City Authority [MHCA] has also partnered with PNG DataCo to roll out the same program in Mt Hagen and the Western Highlands. The initiative aims to improve digital learning and promote inclusive digital transformation in the region.

The launch took place on Friday, 23rd May 2025, at Mt Hagen Secondary School. It was attended by the four Western Highlands MPs, PNG DataCo board and management, and representatives from the participating schools.

PNG DataCo Board Chairman, Dr Thomas Webster, said this new digital connectivity program will change the old style of manually doing things to digitalization.

In my days, we read books to understand things and imagine the world around us.

"However, with the thriving advanced technology pace that the global community exists on, it is obvious that internet connectivity needs to be made easier, and it is only fitting that PNG DataCo and the MHCA come into partnership to see the delivery of this important ICT program," Dr Webster added.

State Owned Enterprises William Duma said the program represents the government's dedication to leveraging ICT for national development and ensuring no community is left behind.

He also urged the students to make use of the initiative delivered to their schools and learn as much as they can.

The six schools in the Hagen Central Electorate that benefited from this program are Mt Hagen Secondary, Hagen Park, Ogelbeng, Kui Wamp Nga Secondary Schools and Ogelbeng TVET, and Highlands Agricultural College (HATI).

Each of the six schools received 13 laptops each with free wifi access points and internet filtering devices.

The total project costs around K602,207, with the Mt Hagen City Authority [MHCA] contributing K70,000 dedicated to the education sector.

Lecturers at Highlands Agricultural College [HATI] receiving their share of laptops by PNG Dataco as part of the School Digital Connectivity Program for schools in the Hagen Open electorate

Western Highlands Provincial Education Board Chairman Esley Tikil welcomed the program and reiterated that it is viable for this initiative to be rolled out to other schools in the province as well.

This is an initiative of the Mt Hagen City Authority [MHCA] in partnership with ElluNet PNG Limited as the local contractor and PNG DataCo Limited as the agency responsible for providing the internet services to schools in the Hagen Central District.