B

ali administration launched on Saturday an e-learning initiative aimed at integrating information and communication technology in daily teaching activities at public schools across the island.

The initiative's first phase will see laptops, LCD projectors, projecting screens and educational software sent to 693 schools in all regions in the island.

The schools included 136 elementary schools or 5.54 percent of the total 2,453 elementary schools in the island, 231 junior high schools or 61.44 percent of the 376, and 326 or 100 percent of the existing senior high schools.

"After the implementation of the first phase we will review whether this initiative is truly beneficial for the students. If it is indeed giving the students significant benefits then we will continue the initiative until all public schools receive the e-learning package," Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika stated.

The administration had allocated Rp 51 billion to fund the first phase of the initiative. The money were taken from the province's annual budget. Next year, the administration will allocate Rp 25 billion to procure similar equipment for 350 more schools.

"We have set a target that by 2014 e-learning would be an integrated feature of all public schools in Bali."

To support the implementation of the initiative, the administration had organized a series of trainings on e-learning targeting teachers from the designated schools.

The first round of training had been conducted early Oct. 2009. So far, as many as 686 teachers had received e-learning training.

A training participant, Ketut Patra, who teaches biology at SMAN 1 senior high school in Sukawati, Gianyar, said the training had provided him with a new, enlightening experience.

"The computer was not a familiar thing for me. The training has convinced me that this new technology will give me a powerful and fun teaching instrument. I believe my students will be very interested in this new way of studying."

Pastika stated e-learning was part of his administration's efforts to provide the public with wider and greater access to education.

"E-learning is a more effective and cost- efficient system. In the long run, it will enable students who live in the island's rural areas, to get a high quality education and information without having to pay a huge amount of money."