Digital Skills: MOE Plans To Add 400 More Hybrid Classes Next Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Education (MOE) plans to expand its hybrid class pilot project to an additional 400 classes next year, aiming to enhance digital skills in selected schools across both urban and rural areas, said Deputy Minister Wong Kah Woh.

He explained that this initiative is part of the MOE's broader effort to foster digital proficiency within the learning ecosystem which has been implemented in 110 selected educational institutions, including rural schools, aligning with Core 4: Empowerment of Infrastructure and Infostructure under the National Education Policy.

“This initiative encompasses 550 classes that began in 2021, featuring smart classrooms equipped with smartboard technology, digital equipment, smart televisions, camera sets, and voice recorders,” he said during an oral question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this in his reply to a question from Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang) regarding the development of efforts to develop students' digital skills, in addition to the method used in solving the issue of equipment constraints in rural schools to adopt technology and digital.

Wong said that the ministry assesses students' digital skills through the Digital Competency Score (DCS) report. Last year, rural school students achieved an average score of 3.24 out of 5.00, compared to the national average of 3.31.

“The average score for students in urban schools is significantly higher, at 3.34 out of 5.00,” he added.

Regarding internet access, Wong said that the MOE has initiated a new acquisition of internet services for the period from July 2024 to June 2025. This initiative includes schools in rural areas and aims to empower 367 Teachers’ Activity Centres (PKG) and 16 Educational Resources and Technology Sector (SSTP) across state Education Departments nationwide, including those beyond urban locations.

Touching on the digital competence of teachers, he noted that as of Sept 30, out of 364,579 teachers screened, 6,338 were classified at the advanced level, while 86,062 fell into the basic level, and 272,179 were at the intermediate level.

“The ministry has acknowledged certain teachers who have reached an advanced level as ‘guru jauhari digital’. As of Sept 30, a total of 810 teachers have been recognised in this capacity. These educators are proficient in integrating digital educational technology and offer assistance and guidance to their peers," he said.

-- BERNAMA