GEORGE TOWN – The “1 Family B40, 1 Computer” campaign aims to prevent a “lost generation”, where children lose out on education due to the lack of necessary tools, like computers.
This campaign, which was launched here today, follows a programme where 350 students had applied to get laptops with the constituency.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin urges the public to donate old laptops for the programme to ensure that the education of children in B40 communities was not hampered by the lack of having necessary tools.
He said students attended school for only three months last year, and have yet to attend school this year, adding that if this goes on, children in B40 communities will be prevented from having a smooth learning experience.
“The Education Ministry wants to encourage online learning, but most B40 families cannot afford computers, laptops, iPads or even smartphones. Parents may own one of these gadgets, but it is not enough to cater to the whole family, especially if they have several children.
“To prevent the ‘lost generation’ from continuing to give up on learning, we, from Bayan Baru, will collect old computers, laptops, iPads and smartphones, repair them and give them away for free to students.
“We have also opened donations of RM50 and above to replace damaged hard drives, RAMs and video cards. The demand is high, that is why we need to do this. We are also expecting more people to apply (for the laptops).
“There is a serious need to help students. Studies have proved that once they are left out, it will be difficult for them to be interested in education again.
“We have a team of five to six student volunteers who will refurbish these devices under the tutelage of a computer businessman, who has also volunteered to join the programme.”
Sim said the campaign will run for 14 days before being reviewed.
Those who wish to donate can do so via online transaction to the Bayan Baru Parliamentary Service Centre’s Maybank account (5570-5461-1829).
Just last month, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman conducted a similar campaign to raise RM200,000 for the purchase of 100 laptops.
In a research last year conducted by the Education Ministry, it was revealed that 36.9% of students nationwide do not possess any electronic device. – The Vibes, January 15, 2021
