Page 30 - Islands Business May 2023

ICT ICT

Photo: SpaceX
DIGITISING WITHOUT DATA

PACIFIC POLICY MAKERS NEED SUPPORT

By Samantha Magick technologies. This is particularly the case when technologies
are designed for profitmaking alone and their trajectories are
A recent United Nations report on the Digital Economy has entirely dependent on the market.”
recommended the formation of an ‘Institute for Pacific Digital One tangible example of the benefits and risk of digitisation
Economies’ in one of the region’s universities to track and can be seen in the education sector, the Pacific Community’s
inform laws relating to digitalisation in the region. (SPC) education program’s director, Michelle Belisle recently
The Digital Economy Report 2022 says a lack of data and told a UN conference.
information about important and emerging issues means “The South Pacific Form Seven Certificate (SPFSC)
policy-makers do not have the information they need to make programme has become more accessible in recent years
informed decisions, and that such an institute will enable through digitalisation. This programme uses the online Moodle
NGOs and development partners to contribute to policy learning system and…a suite of software called the Pacific
making. School Information Management System to support students
In March, Australia and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and teachers virtually. Through this combination of digital
Secretariat signed a grant agreement to improve the tools, students and teachers were able to continue with the
collection of e-commerce statistics in the region. The SPFSC programme despite the impacts of the pandemic and
US$56,505 grant will enable data collection and analysis that other disruptions to education,” Dr Belisle explained.
will be hosted on the Pacific e-commerce portal. However she noted that not all students have equal
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development access, creating a digital divide that can exacerbate existing
(UNCTAD) report notes that while there is growing inequalities in education and limit the potential benefits of
e-commerce and digital trade in the region, and remittances digitalisation.
through digital platforms is playing an important role in some She also pointed out that teachers need training and
Pacific economies, there are some risks. resources and digital tools need to be integrated into the
These risks include potential job losses and concentration curriculum in a way that supports student learning. In Fiji,
of market power, and “new divides and greater inequality”. Digicel is trialing such support through Project Semata, which
The report suggests that governments will need to balance is providing three schools in Savusavu with high-speed internet
the importance of access with other social and economic access and online learning resources.
considerations. Meanwhile, countries such as Solomon Islands are
Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa reinforced developing e-commerce strategies. Communications and
this message at a Sydney dialogue hosted by the Australian Aviation (MCA) Minister, Peter Channel Agovaka said a whole-
Strategic Policy Institute last month, noting: “Devising of-government approach isneeded to build a digital economy
policies for managing these effects is a complex process given that works for all Solomon Islanders.
the number of players involved, the different values and The Digital Economy reports states: “In most countries,
political systems at play, and the cross-border reach of the policies related to data, competition, taxation, labour

30 Islands Business, May 2023