STUDENTS in Tanjung Piai, Johor, now have access to free classes on artificial intelligence (AI) as part of a new initiative aimed at preparing them for future careers.
Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said the initiative would provide a chance for 15,000 primary and secondary school students in the constituency to learn about AI through proper channels.
“The initiative is to expose students to AI concepts at an early age and ensure they remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
“We want them to be ahead of others and be prepared for the future and ‘Maju Johor 2030’, where competitiveness is important,” he said.
Wee said AI knowledge was vital to students, as it could aid in exam preparations and also improve their job prospects in the future.
“We want our people to achieve higher incomes in the future.”
He said the tuition programme would be fully funded through fundraising efforts by his team and Pekan Nanas assemblyman Tan Eng Meng, ensuring that parents would not have to bear any costs.
Wee said he had earlier initiated a programme for about 10,000 primary school students through an AI e-book platform, with plans to expand it to secondary school students as well.
He said students were given login IDs and passwords to access the platform, which offered learning materials and exercises online.
“We believe in starting them early so that when students go on to college, they will understand AI concepts because in the future, almost every field will require AI knowledge.
“If they can master it early, they will have an advantage over others.”
Dr Wee said AI literacy would also help students navigate challenges in the digital age, including identifying scams and fraud.
He is also planning to set up a youth development centre in Tanjung Piai to provide further training opportunities for young people.
The centre, he said, would help equip youths with practical skills training while also offering support for entrepreneurship, start-up loans and job opportunities.
