Lo Khere ChiangAssemblyman slams Education Ministry over call to stop all computer classes in Chinese medium schools across Malaysia

KUCHING: Over 1,000 schools have been affected by the Education Ministry’s recent call to halt all computer classes conducted in Chinese medium schools throughout the country.

Additionally, this has caused more than 2,000 teachers to lose their jobs, says Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.

Moreover, he also expressed his disappointment over the ministry’s decision to replace 100mbps Internet speed provided to schools with that reaching to only a maximum of 4mbps – a move that he regards as ‘ridiculous and plain stupid’.

“I cannot understand the ridiculous way the PH (government) is doing this.

“In Sarawak, our Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) is promoting faster Internet speed to enhance teaching and learning (at school), but the PH government has taken that away instead.

“How is it possible to run modern day computers with 1mbps Internet speed today?” he told reporters at the media room in Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here yesterday.

According to Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman, an ordinary household would have at least 8mbps Internet speed.

“So how can schools run multiple computers with such a minimal Internet speed at one time?

“This is ridiculous and what the PH government is doing is plain stupidity.”

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had, on June 28, ordered Chinese vernacular schools nationwide to stop conducting computer classes during school hours, as this violated several laws under the Education Act 1996 (Act 550).

The classes should only be conducted after school hours, in view of them being regarded as under ‘extracurricular activities’.

His statement came after parents complained that their children studying at Chinese vernacular schools were being made to enrol in computer classes during school hours.

In this respect, Lo said the order had put SJK Chung Hua Batu 4 and other similar schools ‘in further destitution’.

“Several schools in my constituency are progressing towards providing classrooms with the necessary ICT facilities as educational tools in all areas of teaching and learning.

“The goal of attaining STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education is a priority in our Education Blueprint. However, it would

not be possible without a tangible facility to start with – basic ICT infrastructure and Internet accessibility,” he pointed out.

Lo said in such a situation that had seemingly put education at a disadvantage, this would be the best time to demand what rightfully belonged to Sarawak, especially oil and gas revenues that would allow Sarawak to better manage itself.

“That’s why I said: Let’s have our RM15-billion oil revenue annually. Return to us what’s owed to us and we would run everything ourselves – education, health, armed forces and so on.

“Let us remind our people that if Singapore could do it, Sarawak could do it even better with all our resources. Let us have that confidence.

“Don’t let Peninsular Malaysia fool us into thinking that we could not look after ourselves with all our resources,” he stressed.

Reiterating his dissatisfaction over the cutbacks that caused many schools to suffer, Lo argued: “How can we expect PH to take care of Sarawak when they make a mess of even a simple thing like this.”