Quality to Be Focus of New Plan
By Rozana Sani
INFORMATION and communications technology (ICT) is set to take on a more crucial role in the implementation of the country’s newly launched National Education Blueprint (NEB) that aims to increase the quality of education in schools within the next few years.
Outlining plans to be put into effect during the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) period, the blueprint highlights ICT as a core component in the three main aspects of the country’s education system, namely infrastructure, content and manpower.
The NEB has two main thrusts: the first is to complete unfinished tasks laid out in the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2000-2005) that sought to provide everyone access to education and create a level playing field for all students, emphasising on ICT access with linkage to the Internet.
This includes the continuation of the Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics in English (Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris/PPSMI) and Computer Programme.
Meanwhile, the second is to exploit fully potential of schools by having clusters of excellence so as to enable teachers and students to raise the standard of the system of learning in the country to be world class.
Under the two thrusts, there are six core strategies to further strengthen the national education system: build the nation and people; develop human capital; strengthen national schools; narrow education gap; make teaching a prestigious profession; and make excellence a culture in educational institutions.
Under human capital development, the Education Ministry will broaden the Smart School Programme that will see, among others, the establishment of 3,000 Internet access centres as well as the provision of adequate hardware and infrastructure with a computer- teacher ratio of 1:2 and computer-student ratio of 1:20, and complete TV/DVD equipment for schools by 2010.
The percentage of software and digital resources will be increased incrementally according to levels and subjects.
All school administration, support staff and teachers will be trained to use and maintain ICT related equipment by 2010.
To ensure students have appropriate skills required in future, some 300 more schools will be able to offer ICT as an elective subject by 2010. There will also be a Computer Literacy Programme for secondary schools.
To narrow the education gap, there are plans to lessen the digital divide through including rural schools in the Smart School programme. The Ministry’s current TV Pendidikan programme will be enhanced and the utilisation of video teleconferencing will be included to ensure better development and facilities for those in the rural areas.
In order to make teaching a prestigious profession, teacher education institutes will have campus-wide networks that will strengthen teacher training processes. In relation to this, an infostructure that comprises Teacher Training Information Centre, ICT network, Teacher Education portal and Total Campus Management System will be developed this year.
Finally, to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the education delivery system, there are plans to establish an integrated network system as well as upgrade the Ministry’s intranet, broaden broadband usage and upgrade the Ministry’s data centre.
The data warehouse, which is expected to be implemented next year, will centralise all the Ministry’s personnel information. ICT will be leveraged to make more efficient financial management within the Ministry with specific goals to be reached by 2010.
Of the RM23 billion allocated to the Education Ministry under the 9MP, RM331 million is allocated to management and administration programmes covering seven projects, RM158 million for the Education Technology Division covering nine projects, RM204 million for the Smart School Project, RM1.5 billion for Teaching-Learning computerisation and RM1.4 billion for PPSMI.
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