E-LEARNING DEVICES HANDOVER CEREMONY
SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE
E-LEARNING DEVICES HANDOVER CEREMONY
26 SEPTEMBER 2020
YB Puan Chong Eng
Penang State Exco for Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs and Chairperson of Penang E-learning Computer Programme
YB Dato Halim’ Haji Abdul Halim Bin Haji Hussain
Penang State Exco for International & Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs & Entrepreneurial Development
YBhg Dato Goh Eng Hoe
President of IRM Industries Sdn Bhd
YBhg Dato Hwang Thean Long
Managing Director of Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd
Mr Chong Soon Kheng
Head of E-Refurbishing to E-Learning Programme
YBhg Dato’ Yeoh Moh Chai
District Governor Lions Club International District 308-B2
Miss Josephine Tan
General Manager of Penang Green Council (PGC)
Task Force members of E-learning Computer Programme
Representatives from Lions Club and JCI
Members of the media, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good afternoon to all of you!
I would like to begin by congratulating the Penang E-Learning Computer Task Force led by YB Puan Chong Eng for successfully providing 521 learning devices for our students to pursue their online education during the Covic-19 period.
Through the concerted efforts of the members, the private sector, State agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and the public, our students in Penang are equipped with electronic devices to aid them in their studies in spite of the restrictions imposed especially during the MCO period. I am delighted that the crisis had united us all in a novel manner and our students benefited from it.
The Covic-19 pandemic had intensified the challenges confronted by our underprivileged students, as without the necessary e-learning devices, they will fall behind in their studies. To overcome the challenges of e-learning, Penang became the first State in Malaysia to take the initiative in providing electronic learning devices in order to ensure that the right to education is not compromised and no student, whatever his or her station in life, is left behind.
In line with the state government’s Penang2030 Vision, the programme has created the platform for public involvement in social development in order to continue with our efforts in uplifting vulnerable communities and narrowing the inequality gap caused by the digital divide. Hence, I am looking forward to more NGOs and different sectors to join us in this meaningful programme.
On a positive note, the pandemic became some sort of a catalyst for the world to move towards embracing the digital platform and education is one of the most affected sectors.
To my knowledge, the MOE of Singapore recently announced to provide all secondary school students with a personal learning device by the end of 2021. According to a survey conducted by our very own Ministry of Education, 36.9 per cent of students nationwide do not own any e-learning devices. I, therefore, urge the Malaysian Ministry of Education to do what is necessary in order to accelerate the e-learning programme because hybrid learning will be a new norm.
Although E-learning has yet to substitute the conventional education mode, we can’t deny that virtual classroom or online education will play their role when there is an emergency or a crisis happening like what we are facing today. No one can predict when the Covid-19 pandemic will end but as the saying goes: Don't have thy (pronounced: Thai) cloak to make when it begins to rain, we need to plan ahead before the worst-case scenarios happen. Therefore, the task force will prepare a report and proposal for me to bring it to the attention of the MOE.
Lastly, I hope our students who received the e-learning device would derive great benefit from them and be able to utilise the devices wisely for your daily study from home sessions.
Thank you.