Malaysian students will soon find themselves with the option of using electronic tools in classrooms. The Ministry of Education is currently in the process of drawing up guidelines to allow gadgets in classrooms next year. That said, it would appear that smartphones are not included in these plans.
Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid said that smartphones could prove to be too much of a distraction in classes. “You can access more things with a handphone,” he said.
It’s unknown what devices the ministry has in mind, and how the scheme will be implemented. One stumbling block appears to be the difference in internet access across urban and rural schools. Which could limit the effectiveness of any deployment of electronics.
Parent action groups expressed support for the plan, although some concerns were raised. Not all students will be able to afford additional electronics for classroom use, and some believe that the government should intervene to ensure that all have equal access to the learning aids.
Others caution that bringing expensive gadgets into the classroom could potentially lead to an increase in cases of theft.
[Source: The Star]
