Timely to provide digital devices to students – association

KOTA KINABALU: The plan of the Sabah Chief Executive to provide electronic devices to underprivileged students to facilitate their home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) sessions has been described as a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.

“We salute and deeply thank Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for seriously considering to provide the much needed help the students urgently need,” said Wise Consumers Association Sabah (Wcas) president David Chan after the pronouncement.

He said Hajiji’s immediate response to the clamour of the students is another clear manifestation that the new Sabah government is for the people, by the people and of the people.

Last Tuesday, the Chief Minister said his administration understood the constraints and challenges faced by parents, in providing the devices for their children’s learning process at home.

“The State Government understands the needs of the people, especially children in rural areas in times like this, when they cannot go to school and have to study via videoconferencing,” the Chief Minister was qouted as saying.

Describing the announcement as good and inspiring news, David reminded students particularly in rural and remote areas to make full use of the assistance that will be extended to them by the government soon if not too soon.

“Parents should also give all the necessary moral and physical support to their kids in the name of acquring a quality education via the online system,” he reminded.

On the internet coverage aspect, David said the association and the many affected parents are also greatful to learn from the Chief Minister that the Federal Government is committed to enhancing broadband service in the State through the National Digital Infrastructure Plan (Jendela) worth RM2.5 million.

Earlier, WCAS urged telecommunication companies to come up with a cheap, if not free Internet plan for students to do online learning.

The association also gave a ‘shout out’ on the need for the local authority to provide electronic devices to help students in their online learning.