STUDENTS attending Solomon Islands National University (SINU) under Distance Flexibility (DFL) in Gizo, Western Province will soon be able to access classes online.
This is made possible by SINU DFL in partnership with its Information Communication Technology (ICT) department.
The SINU DFL centre is in Western Province is located at the Gizo Community High School.
Speaking to this paper in an interview yesterday, SINU DFL Campus Tutor, Obed Zutu said the main purpose of visiting Gizo is to set up a classroom for registered DFL students in Gizo to go virtually online to participate in tutorials.
Mr Zutu said the setup will be the first of its kind in the provincial capital at Gizo Community High School where DFL students will go online virtually in the classroom, joining zoom session and also other learning managing system.
“We generally use the Ed Moodle which our students can have access to and join their classes from their places rather than going up to Honiara.
“This will not benefit only our DFL SINU students but also teachers and students from Gizo Community High Schools by using the internet service provided through SINU DFL,” he said.
He added they have also offered preparatory certificates for form 3, 4, 5 and 6 leavers that are doing their upgrading studies to enable them to apply for courses in SINU.
“We also have diploma students that are currently doing primary teaching.
”So actually it is the first for Solomon Islands to have a virtual online classroom.
“University South Pacific (USP) based in Honiara already have one, but for SINU it will be the first time in the history,” Mr Zutu said.
Mr Zutu added already SINU Students in Honiara have gone online at their homes and join their class by using their phones.
“They don’t need to travel to the SINU main centre.”
He further added Western Province will be the first province to go online and conduct virtual classes for their students.
The SINU DFL Team together with the ICT Boss also paid a courtesy visit to the Western Provincial Secretary (PS) and the Chief Education Officer of Western Provincial Educational Authority (WPEA).
Meanwhile, the ICT Team is currently busy by pulling the internet fiber cable from Our Telekom to connect Gizo Community High School.
Isabel in Buala, Malaita- Malu, Temotu – Lata and Reef in Lomulomu will be next up for similar set up to ensure students there have access to virtual classes as of this year.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
