Marianville secondary steps into digital future with K400,000 ICT investment

The new ICT lab at the Marianville secondary school, built by PNG DataCo (Image: Supplied)

Marianville Secondary School has officially transitioned into a new era of digital excellence following a massive K400,000 investment in Information and Communication Technology [ICT] infrastructure, spearheaded by PNG DataCo.

The comprehensive technological overhaul, funded through DataCo’s Community Service Obligation [CSO] initiative, was unveiled yesterday during an emotional ceremony at the campus. The project equips the historic institution with 128 desktop computers, 36 laptops, seven wireless access points, and four high-tech Lenovo IdeaHubs.

PNG DataCo chief executive officer Paul Komboi said the initiative would enhance the school's ICT sector with the opening of the junior computer lab, now christened the ‘Komboi Digital Hub.’ Joining the CEO were DataCo’s Chief Financial Controller, Anita Haffman, and Marketing Manager, Elsie Mangor, who are both proud Marianville alumnae.

“It represents a bridge between institutions dedicated to excellence and a personal commitment to give back to the education that shapes our nation,” Komboi told the gathered students and faculty.

The resources have been strategically deployed across the campus, reaching Junior and Senior Computer Labs, staff offices, the teacher’s resource room, and even the school’s conference and TV rooms.

Komboi emphasized that in an age of artificial intelligence, these tools are no longer luxuries but necessities.

PNG DataCo chief executive officer Paul Komboi and Marianville secondary school principal Sister Freda Saura doing the ribbon-cutting of the new ICT infrastructure (Image: Supplied)

“These laboratories are more than rooms with computers, they are gateways,” he said. “To maintain your legendary standard of excellence, your learning environment must not just keep pace; it must lead.”

Founded in 1966 by the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart [OLSH] Sisters, Marianville has long been a powerhouse for female leadership in Papua New Guinea. The school consistently ranks at the top of national Grade 10 and 12 examinations, producing pioneers in medicine, law, and politics.

Principal Sister Freda Saura expressed profound gratitude for the upgrade, noting that while her students have always been eager to learn, they previously lacked the hardware to match their ambitions.

The investment is part of a broader strategy by PNG DataCo to ensure the National Broadband Network [NBN] benefits social sectors like health and education, rather than just commercial centers.

Komboi concluded with a challenge to the students, reminding them that the hardware is only one part of the equation: “Technology magnifies your ability, but character determines your impact.”