The Star Malaysia

10,000 students to benefit from eKelas

- By HANIS ZAINAL

PETALING JAYA: Some 10,000 students from the rural communitie­s in Malaysia will benefit from the newly-launched eKelas portal by Maxis, according to the telco.

Its chairman Tan Sri Raja Arshad Raja Tun Uda said with the portal, students will be encouraged to learn independen­tly at their own speed.

“This portal offers content which empowers students to learn at their own speed and understand­ing. It encourages them to be independen­t.

“We will be rewarding students who have shown the most progress in their academic results through our new Students’ Grant programme,” Raja Arshad said during the launch of the portal recently.

He said the eKelas portal was an extension of the eKelas programme, an after-school digital learning initi- ative by Maxis to improve the academic performanc­e of students in the rural communitie­s.

The eKelas programme, focusing on science, mathematic­s and English for students from Form One to Three, features a combinatio­n of live tutorials, group learning and interactiv­e digital content which is in line with the Malaysian school syllabus.

It can be accessed by students at Pusat Internet 1Malaysia (PI1Ms), Community Broadband Centres across the country, Raja Arshad said.

He added that so far, more than 2,400 students were already participat­ing in the live tutorials delivered through 20 PI1Ms under Maxis care throughout the country.

With the eKelas portal, Raja Arshad said students will have access to a cloud-based resource of learning content, which enabled them to study at their own pace.

He said that with the portal, Maxis planned to expand eKelas in phases

haniszaina­l@thestar.com.my

to an additional 25 locations in the country, delivering the programme through a total of 45 PI1Ms nationwide enabling at least 10,000 students to access the portal by 2018.

Malaysian Communicat­ions and Multimedia Commission Communicat­ions and Digital Ecosystem sec- tor chief officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus commended Maxis for its effort in helping students in rural communitie­s to gain access to digital learning.

“Technology and the Internet are changing the way we communicat­e and access informatio­n, which is why it is important for us to ensure digital inclusiven­ess for all Malaysians,’’ he added.

So, it is indeed gratifying that Maxis is utilising the PI1Ms under its care to further benefit the community and giving it a greater purpose through digital education.

 ??  ?? Rewarding initiative: Maxis eKelas participan­ts showing their support outside a PI1M facility at Precinct 16, Putrajaya.
Rewarding initiative: Maxis eKelas participan­ts showing their support outside a PI1M facility at Precinct 16, Putrajaya.

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