Educational opportunities in the rural communities are limited. CDI's education program focuses on improving these opportunities, making non-formal education available to the targeted communities whilst providing a broad range of support for the formal education system to improve its capacity for providing education services needs.
The Flexible Distance Education (FODE) and the UPNG Open Learning College (UOC) allow school leavers to complete secondary and matriculation studies via distance learning. CDI provides support by administering the studies, providing tutorials for students, arranging for testing and ensuring records are sent to FODE and Opening Learning College Headquarters in Port Moresby. Students are also counselled on further educational opportunities and employment opportunities. For existing schools in the targeted communities, CDI will work with Dept of Education officials, teachers and parents to improve the administrative and managerial capacity of the schools. In-service training for local teachers will be facilitated along with increased visits by school inspectors.
In 2009 under the OSL JVP funding, the program will focus mainly on delivering FODE and UPNG Open Learning. The two components will be complemented by research to establish a database for potential student population for distance education in & around the Project Impact Area (PIA) by year end.
CDI will continue by way of exploring collaborative efforts with the government, department of education and its institutions to facilitate school support services. The School Support aims to provide support to local education institutions and agents to enhance efforts in providing quality education. CDI provides support to local schools, teachers and other local education institutions by facilitating dialogues for building capacity of teachers for further training opportunities, sourcing relevant resources and ensuring relevant information are provided to those partners that require the information. These efforts are in partnership with relevant education institutions addressing education issues.