KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will look into measures, including providing gadgets, to help poor or underprivileged students lacking such technology for online studies.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this when asked about the current predicament faced by many rural students as well as those whose parents cannot afford devices like smartphones, laptops or tablets for online classes.
“This is something we are considering, efforts towards gadgets (provision).
“I understand there are many students from underprivileged groups, so we will think about the assistance for them, ” he said in response to the issue of students not equipped with necessary gadgets despite having Internet coverage in their area, ” said Hajiji after visiting a damaged road stretch at Jalan Penampang - Tambunan on Tuesday (Jan 26).
Earlier, he acknowledged the need for people and students, especially in rural parts of the state, to have good Internet connectivity especially during the movement control order.
Hajiji reiterated the government plans via Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) to improve digital communication in Sabah, including the 400 new telecommunication towers to be built in the next two years.
On whether the MCO will delay the implementation and roll-out of Jendela initiatives, he did not deny that it would have a slight impact due to limited movement and activities.
“But I am confident that when we move from MCO to conditional MCO, when more relaxed rules are applied, more activities can be done, ” he said.
