STU: Difficult to implement online teaching, learning due to lack of internet coverage

KUCHING: The lack of internet coverage in rural and interior areas of Sarawak is not making it possible to undertake teaching and learning sessions via the internet if schools remain closed due to the haze, said Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) president Macky Joseph.

Macky pointed out STU supports the statement made by Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching that teachers continue giving lessons via the Google Classroom application when the haze forces closure of their schools.

While STU acknowledges this would ensure the students do not waste their time idling away when schools are closed, he said it is difficult to implement online teaching and learning in Sarawak due to the “less than satisfactory” internet access in the state.

“Therefore, we at STU urge the government of the day to provide and improve internet services particularly for those schools in the rural and interiors of Sarawak,” he said yesterday.

Teo on Friday in Putrajaya said the Education Ministry will be implementing teaching and learning sessions online if the closure of schools continues due to the worsening haze situation.

“If this (haze) continues, we will take the same action adopted during the incident in Pasir Gudang (Johor), that is to request teachers to continue with online teaching and learning sessions,” she had said, referring to the closure of schools a few months ago owing to incidents of pollution.

The deputy minister added that teachers at schools which are currently closed had already been asked to give their students tasks via the Google Classroom application.