Charles Ione, USPNet Operator

''Interview with Charles Ione, USPnet operator at Niue, August 8, 2003'

Equipment

• 10 computers for students with internet acces
• 6 or 7 are new, the rest are too old for media
• new computers have sound cards
• 120 students
• very crowded
• library computers only are given internet access, but computers in labs are turned off unless they specifally need it for WebCT etc.
• try to minimise internet usage
• too slow internet for heavy media
• facilities shared with high school

CD-usage

• one student has used a CD
• most students do not use CDs
• "I don't think they know about the CD"

Student Usage

• all come daily
• most are school-leavers
• some have computers at home
• each village has a community study centre with computers
• "I don't think accessing a computer is a real regional problem"

Questions

• leery of asking questions
• often ask Charles to ask questions
• "quite a few who are quite open"
• many use their personal emails
• more likely to approach local tutors than ones in Suva
• questions they ask tutors in Suva are generally related to test, assignments
• questions they ask tutors herre are more content based

Language

• taught in english
• discussion in english
• oputput in english
• funny thing bc they are from another generation"

Studying

• most study at home, b/c our centre is small

Training

• run beginning computers courses, available to public and students
• 5 students each course, 1 month each course
• most students from public are mature
• most enrolled students are very computer literate, b/c taught in schools
  • know applications and internet

People to talk to

• High School: tutor James Boihega p: 4039
• Director

Best time to visit

• Late Octobner- Early November would be exam time, so before november

Niue Education for the 21st Century

notes taken by Alim from Niue education for the 21st century : priorities & needs. Suva, Fiji : The University of the South Pacific, 1997. on 25 August, 2003

1. Education focused or directed to children and young people
2. Purpose of education defined by Hon.O.T.Jacobsen, Minister of Education, Niue:

"To train people for citizenship, provide for transmission of knowledge and culture from one generation to another, develop peoples talents, and empower the mind, preparatory to change"

• Higher education only a small proportion eligible therefore higher education regarded as a privilege by government
• For many Niueans, NZ is their 2nd home, so the education system currently used in the country is modeled along the NZ system

Major Areas of Needs in Education

• Non-formal education e.g., in hand dyeing and music
• Ethnic arts
• Shortage of teachers, managers, and nurses
• Returning graduates who can consecrate their lives and dedicate their time and energy into the welfare and up keeping of Niue
• Since 1900's NZ have influenced Niueans mentality and have exposed to more foreign ideas, technology and foreign knowledge.