As part of its 15th General Election manifesto, the Barisan Nasional coalition through its Chairman Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, has also announced its plan to modernise the current education system as well as initiatives to improve the learning experience. Some of the key highlights are offering free laptops and ensuring 5G connectivity in all schools in Malaysia.
BN promises to introduce a textbook-free schooling system and to offer free laptops for B40 students. It also promises to expand 5G internet coverage and public WiFi to all schools within 18 months.
Other initiatives include empowering early education and providing free national childcare to all children aged 6 years and below, to help reduce the cost of living. It also aims to introduce 21st-century smart skills such as coding, creative thinking and basic language communication such as Mandarin, Tamil, Iban, Kadazan, Dusun and other ethnic languages in all schools. It also wants to restore the balance between the fields of science and technology with the fields of literature and art in national schools.
The coalition also promises to provide free higher education to all students from B40 families as a way to address poverty long term. To help reduce the cost of studies, it aims to implement a hybrid system where students spend 50% of their time on-campus and 50% on online or distance learning.
The plan to offer free devices to students isn’t new as it has been implemented under various programmes such as Cerdik, which was funded by Government-Linked Companies (GLC), Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLIC) and corporate donors. Such programmes were heavily criticised for their delay in distribution. This year, the government is providing free tablets to students from B40 families under the PerantiSiswa programme. The distribution of the PerantiSiswa tablets finally started in September after months of delay due to tender issues.
The plan to expand 5G coverage in schools was first mentioned by Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa back in July. He said 1,000 schools throughout Malaysia are expected to be provided by 5G by the end of 2022. At the moment, the national 5G network by Digital Nasional Berhad has covered 33.2% of the population which includes the Klang Valley, selected areas of Perak, Penang, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor. DNB aims to achieve 80% 5G population coverage by the end of 2024.
Zahid Hamidi has also announced plans to abolish import permits or AP for electric vehicles under the coalition’s election manifesto. The removal of AP aims to give greater accessibility for Malaysians to buy affordable EVs.
Related reading
- BN wants to make affordable EVs accessible to Malaysians by abolishing import permits
- Annuar Musa: 1,000 schools including rural areas in Malaysia will get 5G by end of 2022
- PerantiSiswa tablets for B40 students: Everything you need to know, including eligibility and how to apply for one
- GE15: This is how to check which candidates you can vote for based on your area
