Speedy response to laptop donation drive

Volunteers have been roped in to help refurbish second-hand laptops donated to schoolchildren.

WELL-WISHERS are ever willing to donate second-hand laptops to schoolchildren from poor families so they can participate in online lessons.

Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng discovered this after she posted a request on social media seeking old laptops for the purpose.

In her post, she also called on volunteers to help refurbish the devices.

“The response has been overwhelming.

We have 120 people who pledged to donate old laptops, as well as nine volunteers and a computer refurbishing company that committed to refurbishing the devices.

“So far, we have successfully collected, refurbished and delivered 13 laptops to students, ” she said.

Ng estimated that at least 20% of school-going children were forced to self-study at home due to the lack of computers or mobile devices.

A teacher, she said, had told her that every time classes were conducted online, only 80% of students attended.

Of the number, she said, some students had their own computers or mobile devices and attended classes regularly, while others had to rely on their parents’ devices.

“The other 20% are totally disconnected during school closures, ” she said, adding that schools in Subang Jaya had been requested by her office to submit a list of students in dire need of laptops.

They received over 400 names and each was interviewed by volunteers.

Ng said more than half of them were shortlisted.

“The shortlisted students have been classified into three categories in order of priority, which are hardcore poor with no computer or mobile devices in the household, families with more than three school-going children and families with fewer than three school-going children.

“Most families have computers or mobile devices but they are not sufficient for all the children to use at the same time.

“We give priority to students who do not have any electronic device at home, ” she said.

For Internet data, Ng said the students were encouraged to take advantage of the free 1GB daily limit offered by telcos until Dec 31.

She said Smart Selangor WiFi would be available in five low-cost housing projects by the end of the year.

“Students requesting laptops are mostly from low-cost housing schemes.

“For now, WiFi has been installed at public spaces in PJS 7/15 and the SS19 low-cost flats.

“By the end of the year, it will also be installed in Angsana, Sri Tanjung and SS13 low-cost flats, ” she explained.

Old and unused laptops can still be sent to the Subang Jaya Assemblyman’s Service Centre, No.113A, 1st floor, Jalan SS 14/1, Subang Jaya, 47500 Selangor.

For details, call 017-382 0938.