18 October 2024
In a move to advance digital proficiency among students, Malaysia’s Ministry of Education is set to expand its hybrid class initiative next year by adding 400 more classes. This expansion will target selected schools across both urban and rural areas, aiming to ensure digital skills are developed more equitably across the country.
The hybrid class pilot project, which began in 2021, currently operates in 110 educational institutions, including rural schools. Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Who explained that the initiative, which includes 550 smart classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology like smartboards, digital tools, smart televisions, cameras, and voice recorders, is part of a broader effort to foster digital competence in the learning ecosystem.
“This initiative is key to transforming Malaysia’s education system for the digital age,” Wong said. “We want to ensure that students, regardless of their geographic location, have the opportunity to develop essential digital skills.”
The ministry uses a Digital Competency Score report to measure student progress, revealing some discrepancies between rural and urban students. Last year, students in rural areas scored an average of 3.24 out of 5 in digital competency, while the national average stood slightly higher at 3.31. Meanwhile, urban students performed better, achieving an average score of 3.34.
In addition to focusing on student development, the Ministry of Education is also committed to enhancing teachers’ digital skills. Last month, over 300,000 teachers were screened for digital competency. The results showed that 306,338 teachers reached the “advanced” level, 86,062 were categorised as “basic,” and 272,179 fell in the “intermediate” range. To encourage further growth, teachers who have reached the advanced level are recognised as ‘guru jauhari digital,’ a prestigious title acknowledging their proficiency.
The ministry has also initiated efforts to improve internet access in schools, particularly in rural areas, with a new plan to acquire internet services from July 2023 to June 2025. This initiative aims to provide more reliable connectivity for both teachers and students, ensuring that the infrastructure supports the hybrid learning model.
