Working committee to study proposal for students to bring own devices to school (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry has set up a working committee to carry out a detailed study on the proposal to allow students to bring their own gadgets and electronic devices to school to assist them in the teaching and learning process (PDP).
Education director-general Tan Sri Khair Mohamad Yusof said the ministry was currently reforming and reviewing plans to provide gadgets in school, as it involved a policy decision.
"For the time being, we are open to suggestions (from any party in respect of the implementation of the policy) in line with current needs.
"We want to see how we can help the schools by allowing students to bring devices with parental consent, and also how they can control their use for learning purposes," Bernama reported him as saying today.
He was asked to comment on the proposal by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid to develop a policy to allow students to bring their own gadgets and electronic devices to school to help in the teaching and learning process.
Khair had earlier attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture on the Negaraku Art Competition, here.
He said the study on the proposal was expected to be completed within the next two months before any decision was made.
He added that members of the working committee would comprise individuals involved at the policy level of education and stakeholders in the field of technology.
According to him, students are currently not allowed to bring their own devices to school, and the ministry is providing tablets through the '1 Student 1 Device' programme, however, not all students are benefitting from the programme.
"In my view, if the proposal can help enhance learning and use of technology among students, and can be used as best as possible in an ethical manner, we will welcome it," he said.
Meanwhile, in IPOH, P. Chandra Sagaran reports that the Education ministry welcomes feedback and suggestions from the public, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other relevant bodies on the proposal.
Its deputy minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon said there are quarters who opposed while some supported the proposal, thus the ministry need to compile feedback from public, groups and experts.
"We will take into account all the suggestions including the possibility of abuse of the devices," he told reporters after closing the three days Malaysian Conforming Secondary Schools Principals Council conference and the 24th Annual General Meeting here today.
"Schools in foreign countries had been using the gadgets as a learning aid for a long time.
"We are aware of the concern raised by parents and National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) on the matter ... however we want the opinions of all involved," he added. — Bernama