The government will ensure adequate internet connectivity for pupils, according to Zahid

KUANTAN: The government would ensure that low-density, rural, and interior locations have adequate internet access to let students to learn online, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.He also stated that the government will ensure that students no longer have to climb trees to access the internet.

“I have already assured the Digital Minister (Gobind Singh Deo) that, as of the end of this year, kids will no longer have to climb trees to receive service since we have 5G.

At today’s national Teacher’s Day Celebration, he declared, “We have 5G, so we will continue to provide coverage for low population, low-density areas, villages, Felda and Orang Asli settlements, and interior areas; it is mandatory to be provided with sufficient coverage.”

Minister of Education Fadhlina Sidek and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail were also present.

In addition, Ahmad Zahid stated that in order to guarantee that the goals of the Digital Education Policy are met, up to 8,104 school computer labs must be modernised and made completely functional for instructors and pupils.

“I’m hoping the Ministry of Education gives this issue top attention. Additionally, I was told that the provision of teaching and learning (PdP) gadgets to students in computer labs has been carried out gradually.

“It has assisted 11,220 schools since 2022, when 213,014 laptop units have been supplied. I’ll talk to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, about approving more funding for the ministry’s request to supply these devices,” he added.

He said that he would talk to the Prime Minister about giving the Ministry of Education (MOE) more funding in the upcoming budget—rather than the RM58.7 billion allocated in the 2024 budget—so that it can fund more initiatives and offer enough educational supplies.

Meanwhile, the country, which is currently experiencing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), according to Ahmad Zahid, the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, needs an education system that produces students who are fluent in digital technology in order for them to compete and meet the demands of the job market, in line with the evolution of the digital world.

According to Ahmad Zahid, MOE must therefore devise a plan to guarantee that digital technology may integrate with the Madani generation’s cultural heritage of knowledge acquisition.

An informed, moral, and forward-thinking nation is the goal of the Madani people. The instructor’s position is crucial in this regard. The two most important factors in creating a competitive and peaceful society are education and technology.

In order for us to improve educational capability, which is enshrined as one of the seven main cores of MOE, the theme of “Guru Jauhari Digital, Aspirasi Negara Madani” is very suitable to support the Digital Education Policy, which was launched on November 28, 2023 by Fadhlina Sidek, he said.

Today’s event saw the appointment of Datuk Sulaiman Wak, the former deputy director-general of education, as the Tokoh Kepimpinan Pendidikan Kebangsaan 2024 recipient. Approximately 3,000 educators from all over the nation attended.

Tokoh Guru Kebangsaan 2024 was awarded to Masariah Mispari, a former history teacher who currently serves as the head of the panel at the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM). – Bernama