KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government will consider providing underprivileged students in Sabah with electronic gadgets for their online studies.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the state government will look into the matter and efforts are ongoing to provide such gadgets to these students.
“The Sabah government understands there are many underprivileged students facing this problem.
“We will consider providing aid to these students,” Hajiji told reporters after a site visit to a collapsed section of the Jalan Penampang-Tambunan road today.
Hajiji was commenting on whether the state government had any initiatives to provide assistance for students facing problems studying online during the movement control order due to the lack of electronic gadgets or internet coverage.
He said that starting this year, the federal government through the Jendela programme will increase digital communications throughout Sabah.
“We have about RM2.5 billion to upgrade our digital communications statewide.
“More than 2000 telecommunication towers in Sabah will be upgraded to 4G from the existing 1G and 2G and around 400 new towers will also be constructed in the next two years.”
He said the government is aware of the people’s needs and those of rural students in the state more so during this MCO period where they are unable to attend classes and have to learn from home via video conferencing.
When asked whether the MCO would delay the implementation of the Jendela programme, Hajiji agreed that it would.
“Of course during this MCO, many activities are restricted where we cannot carry out project activities, certain business activities and so on.
“However, I am confident that the Jendela programme will be back on track, when we revert back to CMCO status where restrictions can be loosened and more activities involving the people can be carried out.”
Yesterday, it was reported that the RM150 million Cerdik initiative to provide laptops, tablets, and data connectivity to students from lower-income families under the 2021 budget is also set to begin next month.
The problem of poor internet connectivity has long plagued Sabah, particularly in the rural areas.
It was reported in June last year that in order to access the Internet in a rural area in Sabah a university student in Pitas had to spend the night on a tree in order to sit for her online examinations.
In November last year, it was reported that three students of Kg Gusi in Ranau, Sabah were injured after falling from a collapsed suspension bridge while accessing the internet for their online studies.
Meanwhile in January, it was reported that a father of three had to build a makeshift hut in Kg Gana, Papar at a secluded location for his children's online studies due to connectivity issues. – The Vibes, January 26, 2021
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