KUCHING: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has been urged to pay greater attention to the need for internet access and speed, especially in rural areas.
Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said many rural students could not enjoy online learning during the movement control order (MCO).
She added some homes in the rural areas did not even have ICT hardware such as computers or laptops.
“Parents play a very important role, especially in online teaching and learning (PdP) methods among younger children.
“As such, ICT skills must also be taught not only among the students but their parents as well,” she said.
Fatimah added during times like this, parents had to help set up video conferencing hardware so that the students could clarify the tasks given by teachers.
“PdP also requires online monitoring strategies but all this can only be done effectively in rural areas if there is Internet access,” she pointed out.
Schools across the country have been closed since the MCO was enforced on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
However, concerns were raised on how the rural students and teachers were coping as internet facilities were lacking in the rural areas in the state.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has urged MOE to look into the issues faced by teachers, parents and students when conducting the PdP sessions during the MCO.
