All in favour of making digital learning a success

PETALING JAYA: Education groups and parents have welcomed the idea of expanding digital education to ensure that no Malaysian student is left behind.

Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said digital education must “unconditionally” be made a roaring success.

However, she said this will only be achieved if there is responsibility and accountability from the Education Minister and his ministry.

“The easy part is always the purchase of any enhancement. The difficulty always comes with the usage of state-of-the-art-technologies.

“Teachers play the most crucial role. Many challenges, especially mindsets, have to be overcome, ” she said in an interview.

Noor Azimah was responding to the Education Ministry’s plan to enhance the national digital education and Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) initiative involving schools.

Currently, there are several digital education platforms, such as Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (Delima) under the ministry.

Noor Azimah said teachers must be fully, professionally and properly trained to utilise these technologies in order for students to become independent learners.

“This is the time to use digital education to its fullest for our children to jumpstart post Covid-19 and become global learners, ” she said.

Noor Azimah said she also hopes that any potential leakage and wastage can be eliminated to ensure that the education budget goes completely towards the expenditure of education and raising standards of teachers’ professionalism as well as relevant continuous professional development.

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin said he hopes that the Education Ministry will work closely with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), telco providers and education experts to achieve this goal the soonest.

“(I’m) glad that the Education Ministry has this plan. It’s better late than never.

“Not only do we not have the latest interactive materials, our Internet connectivity leaves much to be desired.

“(I) hope that the Education Ministry will work closely with the (stakeholders) to achieve this goal, ” he said.

Fauzia Sultan (pic), a mother of two, welcomes the government’s intention to relook teaching methods by adopting digital learning tools and resources, especially during such a critical time in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The world, she said, is transforming through digitalisation and schools too are predisposed to such a transition.

“Learning tools and technology allow students to be more resourceful as well as increase their efficiency and productivity, and better prepare them for the working world that has long adopted digitalisation, ” said Fauzia, who owns a public relations agency and a social enterprise.

Her eldest son will be sitting for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) this year while her second son, who is 12, is studying in an international school.

“My youngest son just received his Chromebook laptop from school in preparation for the full adoption of digital learning by the school.

“Children are more excited to learn using these tools, ” she added.