KUALA LUMPUR – The mystery behind the promise by the government to deliver 150,000 laptops to students from low-income families remains unsolved as the two ministries tasked to carry out the programme continue to blame each other.
An Education Ministry (MoE) source said the ministry is not involved in the preparation and distribution of the devices, according to The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran.
Instead, the role of the ministry is to only prepare data on the location of schools and number of students following set criteria, the source added.
Therefore, he said, it is not right for the public to put the blame on the ministry led by Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.
“MoE is involved in the effort of donating the laptops, but its responsibility is to only provide data on the location of schools and number of students to receive the devices.
“It is really disappointing when the public, especially teachers, students and parents, blame the ministry, as it has played its part to help make the programme a success.”
However, a Finance Ministry source told Getaran that the responsibility to distribute the laptops falls under MoE.
“The responsibility of the Finance Ministry and Yayasan Hasanah is to provide the devices, while the role of MoE is to distribute them to the schools and designated students.
“The latest data on the current status of the laptop distribution can be obtained via Yayasan Hasanah’s website.”
Checks on the Yayasan Hasanah website revealed that a total of 93,282 laptops are still “on their way” to students.
The data, up to July 1, revealed that only 56,718 laptops have been successfully distributed to students from 446 schools in 129 districts nationwide.
“A total of 93,282 units have not been handed over to students, and the process of handing over the remaining laptops will be done until the end of September, as expected,” said the source.
“From the distributed amount, 12,909 units are in the process of distribution, while 80,373 units are expected to be handed out by the end of September.”
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had announced the laptop giveaway during his Budget 2021 presentation in November last year.
The devices were supposed to be distributed to primary and secondary school students in February to assist them in online classes due to school closures.
To realise the programme, government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies will channel contributions worth RM150 million to Tabung Cerdik.
However, it sparked a widespread debate and dispute among teachers, students, parents and related unions when the promised devices have yet to be sent out to the target group although it was announced eight months ago.
Following the delay, MoE has been accused of breaking promises, as well as being careless and unconcerned in helping to solve the problem. – The Vibes, July 8, 2021
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