Ministry targets digital divide in new education blueprint

KUALA LUMPUR - The Ministry of Education (MOE) is determined to bridge the digital divide in the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint (RPM) 2026-2035 by strengthening infrastructure across all its educational institutions, regardless of whether they are located in urban or rural areas.

Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said all schools are being targeted to be equipped with high-speed internet connectivity using appropriate approaches and technologies, while ensuring all students achieve at least an intermediate level of digital competency based on the Digital Competency Score.

He said the effort would be strengthened through the Digital Education Policy and the use of the Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELIMa) platform, which provides digital learning materials for students and teachers.

"All digital materials and inputs have been uploaded to the DELIMa platform, and to support this effort, we will ensure schools are equipped with high-speed internet facilities.

"This step is important to ensure our children and teachers have direct access to the internet and the digital education agenda,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) regarding measures to narrow the digital divide during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Wong said the MOE also ensures that the distribution of digital devices and educational resources is carried out fairly and equitably to all schools to reduce the access gap between urban and rural areas.

Responding to a question from Kamal Ashaari (PN-Kuala Krau), he said that under the Malaysian Education Development Plan (PPPM) 2013-2025, the gap in the average grade score for the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination between urban and rural students had been reduced by 26.23 per cent.

The gender gap in eligibility to obtain the SPM certificate also decreased by 52.78 per cent, while the gap based on socioeconomic status recorded a reduction of 57.75 per cent.

To continue this achievement, Wong said the MOE would ensure access to quality education is improved nationwide, while prioritising infrastructure development and the upgrading of dilapidated schools based on local needs.

Meanwhile, he said teacher well-being remains a focus of the ministry, with seven measures introduced since 2023 to reduce teachers’ workload continuing to be strengthened, including the removal of overlapping and unnecessary record-keeping processes. - BERNAMA