Contract between Education Ministry and 1BestariNet ends June 30

PETALING JAYA: The contract between 1BestariNet and the Education Ministry to provide Internet access and a virtual learning environment (VLE) to schools nationwide ends on June 30.

In a statement on Thursday (June 27) the Education Ministry said three companies – Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Celcom Axiata Berhad and Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd – will take over as Internet service providers for schools from July 1.

It added that when phase 2 of the 1BestariNet service expires, schools would switch to Google Classroom as the VLE platform in place of Frog VLE.

"The three companies will provide Internet connection to several divisions in the ministry and to 266 Teacher Activity Centres nationwide," it said.

The ministry noted that the services would be provided for a period of six months until Dec 31 this year.

"The ministry would then choose a new service provider beginning Jan 1, 2020 after carrying out evaluations," it said.

Since 2012, 1BestariNet has assisted the ministry in providing Internet services and VLE applications to some 10,211 schools nationwide.

The ministry also noted that most of the 10,211 schools would receive Internet services as early as July 1.

Several schools, especially those in the interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak, will experience a slight delay, which will be solved before the end of July.

The ministry also noted that since 1BestariNet Phase 2 will be ending, it would use the Google Classroom learning platform instead of the Frog VLE.

"Based on the feedback received by the ministry, the move is for the benefit of teachers and students," it added.

1BestariNet was introduced in 2011 by the ministry under a 15-year project that will cost RM4.077bil to complete.

However, it was reported that various complaints on the project were highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee in 2013 and 2014.

The problems reported include delays in installing Internet services, the lack of a project committee, poor broadband access, and the ministry's failure to properly research schools' needs.