A review of the PNG Girls in ICT Scholarship by NICTA with recommendations

The need for school fees for Papua New Guinean students is pressing with poor economic conditions of their parents and hike in schools fees every year round. Many times the need has been politicized by few for personal gain and at times abused the students’ education. 

When a government body announces a fully paid scholarship, it is a must-grab opportunity for every applicant. Not many government bodies or its business arms are giving out scholarship but this time T4G blog gives some time to review the NICTA Girls in ICT Scholarship for 2019 with few recommendations.

NICTA is giving away four (4) full scholarships in ICT to PNG females in 2019

PNG’s National Information and Communication Technology authority (NICTA), a statutory body to control and regulate the information and communication technology sector in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as well as oversees broadcasting, internet service provision, radio communications and telecommunications is giving away four (4) full scholarships to PNG females to study in the field of ICT in 2019.

The scholarship covers full tuition fees, boarding and lodging fees, textbook and stationary allowances, forthrightly stipends and travel expenses for the during of the study.

Eligible criteria includes just completed grade 12 in 2018, obtain “B” grade average in sciences courses and must be accepted into any one of the following courses; Electrical & Communications Engineering, Computer Science, IT or an ICT related course at a NICTA recognized tertiary institution in Papua New Guinea. The tertiary institutions that NICTA recognizes to provide sponsorship to an Awardee are:

PNG University of Technology (UNITECH), University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE), University of Goroka (UOG), Divine Word University (DWU), Pacific Adventist University (PAU) and Institute of Business Studies (IBS).

And others, both public and private institutions, recognised by the PNG Office of Higher Education (OHE) or the Education Department which have ICT related study activities are also accepted by NICTA.

Application forms are obtained by emailing via: gictschloraship@nicta.giv.pg or the editable version of the form can be found on the NICTA’s official website; https://www.nicta.gov.pg

All sections of the application form must be completed. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. Please use N/A to indicate unable to answer. Leave no blanks. Applications must be neatly written if hand-written. Otherwise we prefer to be typed or identically reproduced in computer form. Applications must include the following;

Completed Application form (including an essay), two (2) references (e.g. school teacher, pastor or community leader, etc) with current contact information for each, certified copy of Grade 12 certificate (viewed and signed by Commissioner of Oaths) and a copy of acceptance or offer letter from a NICTA recognized college or university.

The essay must be prepared on one page, with the theme: “My Interest in developing a career in ICT (or related field) and WHY the scholarship should be awarded to me”

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 4pm, 31st January, 2019. 


Issues and constrains

Reviewed this scholarship for girls in ICT sector and thus the following:

Firstly, it is highly commendable for NICTA to initiate the scholarship program. There are many Govt businesses and regulatory bodies but none had considered scholarship as an investment for the future of PNG, not even a graduate trainee program, for new graduates. This is the best, to say least.

NICTA Girls Scholarship has these loopholes. The scholarship is not reaching every graduating Grade 12 girls nationwide, whom may be motivated by this scholarship to study ICT related fields as most girls apply to tertiary institutions and programs basing on the fee factor.

For those whom had the privilege to get an offer to study ICT at a tertiary institution, the time given for preparing required documents and complete an essay is very limited. Grade 12 students throughout the country wait for their offer letters until mid or late January. This scholarship has a deadline on 31st January, 2019.


Recommendations

Amongst other recommendations for the PNG Girls in ICT scholarship by NICTA, here are few. Firstly, NICTA needs to work with the Department of Education to channel the scholarship opportunity to all secondary schools in the country, while doing Grade 12, every girls need to be aware of the opportunity and consider apply. Secondly, extend the timeframe, perhaps to end of February.

All in all, this is an excellent initiative by NICTA that other Government businesses and authorities to consider similar initiatives to invest in the future of the country, not only for girls but for those who cannot afford to pay the ever increasing fees.