Hasten Cerdik laptop delivery now that e-learning will resume after Raya, govt urged

KUALA LUMPUR – Accelerate the delivery of free laptops promised under Budget 2021, seeing as to how online learning will resume after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, the government has been told.

The Pakatan Harapan education committee, in a statement, said conducting home-based learning is a wise move, but considering the Covid-19 pandemic, it has to be accompanied by government aid to facilitate the teaching and learning process. 

This is especially important for students and teachers who may not have the necessary equipment to join online classes, it said.

“We believe that regardless of how long PdPR (online teaching and learning) is implemented, what’s important is that the laptop assistance to those who need it is expedited. This is to ensure PdPR provides maximum effectiveness to all involved.”

The education committee urged Putrajaya to provide a special incentive for educators to buy internet data and other teaching aid to facilitate PdPR. 

The statement was jointly signed by committee chairman Maszlee Malik (independent), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR), Teo Nie Ching (DAP) and Datuk Hasan Baharom (Amanah). 

Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin yesterday announced that all schools will conduct online classes for two weeks after the Raya break from March 7 to 15 for Category 1 schools, and from March 8 to 16 (Category 2). 

PdPR will be conducted from May 16 to 27 and May 17 to 28, respectively, for the two categories, following which, students will continue their term holidays for another two weeks. 

Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, when tabling Budget 2021 last November, said the government will contribute RM150 million to the Cerdik fund to provide 150,000 laptops to students in 500 schools. 

Yayasan Hasanah, the initiative’s government-appointed secretariat, on Sunday said all the laptops will be distributed by end-September. 

The foundation said some 13,000 laptops have already been given to state Education Departments, with at least 50,000 students to receive their devices by end-May. – The Vibes, April 27, 2021