In an effort to conduct information technology literacy programmes in rural schools, the Government of Malaysia has com out with Mobile Internet Unit (MIU). Under this project, students and teachers in non-main stream schools of Malaysia will be provided computer-mediated education. MIU is a mobile library cum computing center in the form of a bus that goes around the non-main stream schools in the country to conduct basic ICT (Information Communication Technology) literacy programs. Non-main stream schools are schools that are deprived of access to information and opportunity to acquire ICT skills. These schools are not included in the current government “Smart Schools” programmes or any other similar ICT initiatives conducted by the non-government agencies. The main objectives of the programme are to: ¡ promote ICT (Information Communication Technology) awareness & literacy among the teachers and students in non-main stream schools. ¡ assess and collect data on IT potential / capacity of the teachers & students in these schools. ¡ provide electronic classroom experiences for these schools. ¡ assess the impact of ICT on the teaching & learning processes in the new environment. The schools that are selected from all the nine districts in Selangor will be provided with IT equipments like Pentium personal computers port hubs, digital cameras, printers, generators, LCD projectors, and more. Basic computing, internet and multimedia production skills will be taught to the students and teachers of the select schools. There are currently about 7,000 primary and 1,500 secondary schools in Malaysia, most of which in rural areas. Rural schools, which hold the potential to yield IT competent students, are far in time to be effected by the Smart School concept, mooted by the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC). MIU project is therefore critical in assessing and collecting data on the potential IT capacity in teachers and students in rural schools.
International e-Gov Update
ICT initiatives for deprived schools in Malaysia
From October 2007 • Informatics, National Informatics Centre