More Chinese schools going high-tech in the classroom

PETALING JAYA: More and more schools, especially Chinese schools, are now equipped with interactive boards, thanks to private sector initiative.

Deputy Education Minister Senator Datuk Chong Sin Woon said such assistance was welcome to help equip classrooms with 21st century education tools in keeping with the global trend.

“We encourage the private sector to join hands with us to help equip more schools with high-tech tools,” he said.

Chong was speaking to reporters after BenQ Asia Pacific Corporation president Jeffrey Liang presented an interactive board to SJK (C) Kampung Baru Broga headmaster Wong Kuek Woon at Nexus Bangsar South yesterday.

The school’s Parent-Teacher Association chairman Hoo Siew Lee said they had approached BenQ to help sponsor the item.

“We want children in rural areas like Broga to also have access to high-tech tools,” she said, adding that the board was worth RM15,999.

Liang said the interactive board is a large display pannel connected to a computer.

“A projector projects the computer’s desktop onto the board’s surface, where users can then control the computer using a pen, finger or stylus,” he said.

On another matter, Chong said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was open to discussion on recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

He said that over the years, the Prime Minister and the Education Ministry had provided standard written answers on the matter raised in Parliament.

“MCA and Gerakan have started discussions with the ministry in pushing for the recognition of the UEC,” he said.

“There is a fundamental change now as Najib has given assurance and welcomed open discussion.”