Answer for Oral Question PL264

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Amran bin Haji Maidin

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG AMRAN BIN HAJI MAIDIN asked the MENTERI PENDIDIKAN to state the Ministry’s measures to address the issue of weak internet access in schools. In addition, what device assistance and support are provided to students from less privileged families to ensure that all students have fair access to digital learning without falling behind?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pendidikan

Allow me to divide the answer into two parts.

First, regarding internet access in schools.

To address the issue of weak internet access in schools, the Ministry of Education is implementing two complementary major initiatives.

The first initiative is the National Education Network or NEN Project, which aims to improve the performance and stability of internet connections to schools. All schools under the Ministry of Education have been connected to NEN with a minimum broadband capacity of 100 Mbps. This provides a more stable internet connection to support digital teaching and learning.

The second initiative is the School Network Infrastructure Upgrading Project. At present, network and Wi-Fi coverage in schools that have yet to be upgraded remains concentrated in certain areas such as computer laboratories, libraries and teachers’ rooms. Through this project, each upgraded school will receive network and Wi-Fi coverage throughout the school grounds, including classrooms and teaching and learning spaces. Its implementation is being carried out in phases according to groups of schools, with the first phase involving nine secondary schools completed in February 2026, while the second phase, involving 25 secondary schools and 90 primary schools, is scheduled for 2027.

While the upgrading is being carried out in phases, the Ministry of Education continues to monitor network performance and work with the relevant agencies to address disruptions and technical issues based on the needs and priority levels of the schools.

Second, regarding device assistance for students from less privileged families.

Through the Program Bantuan Khas Peranti, which was introduced in 2022, the Ministry of Education provides laptop loan facilities to students from less privileged families who require devices to participate in digital learning at school and at home.

The laptops are assets of the Ministry of Education. The loan facilities continue to be managed and coordinated by the schools so that the devices can be utilised by students in need.

In addition to the initiative, the BIBD ALAF Programme also provides device assistance to students from less privileged families, particularly among the asnaf, to support their digital learning.

Overall, the Ministry of Education will continue to upgrade network infrastructure in phases and provide targeted device assistance to ensure that students from less privileged families are not left behind in digital learning.