KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is finalising the Digital Education Policy, with the draft expected to be presented to the cabinet soon.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the policy was aimed at creating a digital-savvy generation by nurturing talents with knowledge, skills and ethics in the usage of technology.
"Among the focus given in the policy is improving students' proficiency in digital technology, enriching digital content with quality, empowering teachers' competency, making digital technology usage a culture among education leaders, enabling digital info-structures and infrastructures under the ministry and strengthening strategic networks among smart partners.
"The ministry is always committed to improving technology and digital-based learning to fulfil future education needs," she said in a parliamentary written reply to a question from Zulkifli Ismail (PN-Jasin).
Fadhlina said the ministry was in the midst of replacing various digital devices including old laptops, printers, projects and charging carts.
She said 3,910 schools were involved in phase 1 of the programme last year, while phase 2, which takes place this year, would involve 3,455 schools and another 3,915 schools will be involved under the third phase next year.
In enhancing online communication facilities, she said, the ministry provided broadband Internet with speed between 30Mbps and 300Mbps to 10,233 schools, she said.
She said a total 5,027 schools now have fiber optic Internet, 4,701 schools with wireless 4G broadband and 505 others have satellite lines.
"At the moment, Internet access in schools only covers computer labs, teachers' room and administration office.
"For teaching materials, the ministry is upgrading the Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELIMa) to improve user experience, data analytics and contents."
According to data on Jan 28, a total of 445,883 teachers, lecturers, education officials and trainee teachers as well as 4.27 million students have used DELIMa, she added.