1BestariNet fate to be known next year

Committee now studying school Internet programme

THE Education Ministry will decide whether to continue with the 1BestariNet programme in schools by the middle of next year, said Dr Maszlee Malik.

This follows a review of the controversial RM4bil programme to spearhead 4G broadband connectivity and virtual learning environment (VLE) to some 10,000 schools nationwide.

“Whether we decide to continue or change the programme depends on the findings of a third party committee set up to study the effectiveness of 1BestariNet,” the Education Minister said to a question by Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin) during Minister’s Question Time in Parliament yesterday.

He said Mimos Bhd had submitted an initial report on the programme to the committee and its final report was expected next month.

At present, he said the ministry was still bound to the 1BestariNet programme until June 2019 based on an agreement entered between the previous administration and supplier.

The ministry, he said, had paid RM530.3mil for the programme between January and October this year.

Earlier, Dr Maszlee told lawmakers that 10,190 schools were equipped with Internet broadband services.

This include 9,786 schools which used the 1BestariNet service.

The other schools used the services of other providers.

Dr Maszlee said there were 1,578 schools that had low Internet broadband speed as they were located in rural areas.

1BestariNet was introduced in 2011 by the Education Ministry.

It came under scrutiny in the Auditor-General’s Report and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee in 2013 and 2014.

The reports highlighted delays in installing internet services, the lack of a project committee, unsatisfactory services and the ministry’s failure to carry out proper research on the needs of schools.