PETALING JAYA: Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari today questioned the Education Ministry on the purchase of Chromebook laptops at a higher-than-market price for the 1Student 1Device programme.
He also questioned the need to buy so many Chromebooks when it is not user specific.
“I would now like to question the cost-efficiency of the proposed purchase of Chromebooks, which are laptops based on cloud computing, meaning that each unit is not user-specific.
“In other words, users can login using any Chromebook to access their information and files, which are kept on a ‘cloud’ or a remote server,” Zairil said in a statement today.He also questioned the need to buy so many Chromebooks when it is not user specific.
“I would now like to question the cost-efficiency of the proposed purchase of Chromebooks, which are laptops based on cloud computing, meaning that each unit is not user-specific.
The ministry has already allocated RM139.6 million for the initial purchase of 116,399 units. Each Chromebook is priced at RM1,200.
However, Zairil revealed that the market price for a Samsung Wi-fi model is only RM988 and a Samsung 4G RM1,299.
“Why is the ministry paying RM1,200 for a Samsung Wi-Fi model when the same unit retails at only RM988?
“Surely, the ministry would be able to get a substantial discount considering that it is ordering 116,399 units with a view to buy 5.4 million more for the 1 Student 1 Device programme?”
The 1Student 1Device programme was launched by the Education Minister Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in February this year and he promised that each student will be receiving a laptop under the programme.
Yesterday, Zairil asked why the Education Ministry had allowed YTL to monopolise three of its projects. The three are:-
a) High-speed 4G broadband project worth RM663mil under the 1BestariNet programme for all schools, for two-and-half years;
b) Virtual-Learning Environment (VLE) platform for teachers, students and parents which costs RM250.5mil for fixed-term licensing fees and RM262.8mil for management and maintenance costs; and
c) Chromebook units under the 1Student 1Device programme worth RM39.6mil for an initial order of 116,399 units at the cost of RM1,200 per unit.
In response to his queries, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said the use of Chromebook is cheaper than a computer lab.
The use of Chromebook would cost RM86,700 whereas a computer laboratory would cost RM150,000.
Zairil also queried as to why the government is not purchasing the laptops directly from the manufacturers as it would cost lesser.
Comparatively, a Samsung Wi-fi unit in the United States and Canada cost about RM792, Australia RM1,111 and in the United Kingdom RM1,085. The market price for a Samsung Wi-fi in Malaysia is RM988.
Yesterday, Zairil asked why the Education Ministry had allowed YTL to monopolise three of its projects. The three are:-
a) High-speed 4G broadband project worth RM663mil under the 1BestariNet programme for all schools, for two-and-half years;
b) Virtual-Learning Environment (VLE) platform for teachers, students and parents which costs RM250.5mil for fixed-term licensing fees and RM262.8mil for management and maintenance costs; and
c) Chromebook units under the 1Student 1Device programme worth RM39.6mil for an initial order of 116,399 units at the cost of RM1,200 per unit.
In response to his queries, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said the use of Chromebook is cheaper than a computer lab.
The use of Chromebook would cost RM86,700 whereas a computer laboratory would cost RM150,000.
Zairil also queried as to why the government is not purchasing the laptops directly from the manufacturers as it would cost lesser.
Comparatively, a Samsung Wi-fi unit in the United States and Canada cost about RM792, Australia RM1,111 and in the United Kingdom RM1,085. The market price for a Samsung Wi-fi in Malaysia is RM988.
The Rural and Regional Development Ministry is striving to provide jobs and business opportunities to unemployed youths in rural areas.
ReplyDeletePerkembangan ekonomi turut menggalak lebih banyak peluang pekerjaan.
DeleteDatuk Seri Shafie said there were one million unemployed youths nationwide and most of them were school dropouts as their academic qualifications were too low for the job market.
ReplyDeletePengalaman yang mencukupi juga memainkan peranan yang penting.
DeleteLahad Datu Oil Storage & Distribution Sdn Bhd (LDOSD) yesterday signed a lease agreement with POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, the developer of POIC Lahad Datu, for the use of 12 acres of land for the construction of a fuel storage and distribution facility.
ReplyDeleteLDOSD plans to invest RM180 million to build a base tank storage terminal from which to ship fuel supply services and petroleum storage and distribution services will be provided.
ReplyDeletePOIC Sabah Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Dr Pang Teck Wai described the signing on Monday was a confirmation of the potentials in developing the south-north shipping route from the Hedland and Dampier ports in Western Australia to ports of China, Korea and Japan, passing by Lahad Datu.
ReplyDeleteLarge capital-spending programmes and acquisitions will remain key sources of pressure for the standalone credit quality of many investment-grade oil and gas (O&G) companies in Asia, said Moody's Investors Service.
ReplyDeleteIts Vice President/Senior Credit Officer, Simon Wong, said the companies at the lower end of the investment-grade rating scale will continue to face greater pressure from large debt-funded acquisitions and capital spending.
ReplyDeleteacquisitions of O&G assets with long development lead time are subject to greater execution delays or cost overruns, a credit negative.
ReplyDeletemost Asian oil firms are national oil companies -- in which governments own large stakes and which often own or manage their strategic resources of their countries -- their ratings incorporate a high to very high degree of explicit or implied government support.
ReplyDeleteMoody's believes that the need for acquisitions and large capital-spending reflects the fact that Asian national oil companies are under pressure to invest in order to diversify their reserves geographically.
ReplyDeleteKabinet akan membincangkan isu berhubung pelajar yang gagal mendapat tempat di universiti awam minggu ini, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
ReplyDelete"Saya tahu sesetengahnya kecewa kerana tidak mendapat tempat di universiti tetapi jangan putus asa.(Perkara itu) akan dibincangkan di Kabinet minggu ini mengenai cara terbaik membantu pelajar berkenaan," katanya dalam tweetnya hari ini.
Semalam, Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan Kedua P.Kamalanathan berkata 18,000 pelajar gagal mendapat tempat di institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) walaupun mereka memenuhi syarat dan meminta mereka membuat rayuan.
Seramai 68,702 memohon untuk program ijazah pertama bagi sesi akademik 2013/2014 tetapi hanya 41,573 mendapat tawaran di IPTA, demikian diumumkan Jabatan Pengajian Tinggi
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata kerajaan akan terus menyediakan pendidikan yang berpatutan dan berkualiti tinggi kepada pelajar, di samping mengimbangi keperluan rakyat dengan memupuk bakat masa hadapan.
ReplyDeleteKatanya pendidikan yang baik adalah penting bukan sahaja kerana orang ramai perlu diberi peluang mengembangkan pengetahuan mereka, tetapi juga kerana tenaga kerja mahir semakin diperlukan dalam ekonomi masa kini yang kian berkembang dan diterajui oleh teknologi maklumat.
"Peranan kerajaan dalam membantu pelajar mendapatkan pendidikan tinggi ternyata jelas. Atas sebab itulah biasiswa Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) ditawarkan secara rutin kepada pelajar yang layak bagi membantu mereka mencapai impian untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke tahap universiti atau kolej ternama," katanya dalam entri blog terbaru di laman www.1malaysia.com.my hari ini.
Jelasnya, pelajar yang tidak layak mendapat biasiswa pula ditawarkan pinjaman Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) sebagai alternatif.
Perdana Menteri berkata PTPTN yang ditubuhkan pada 1997 bagi memudahkan pelajar yang memerlukan bantuan kewangan untuk melanjutkan pelajaran bagaimanapun tidak lari daripada kritikan.
Ini termasuk gesaan supaya sistem yang telah beroperasi lebih dari sedekad setengah itu digantikan dengan sistem pendidikan tinggi percuma untuk semua sebagai langkah mengurangkan beban pembayaran balik ke atas pelajar.
"Kami telah mempertimbangkan kebaikan dan keburukan cadangan ini – walaupun pemansuhan menawarkan penangguhan segera bagi pelajar-pelajar yang masih membayar balik pinjaman PTPTN mereka, terdapat faktor-faktor lain yang perlu diambil kira oleh pihak kerajaan.
Urban Malaysians have long enjoyed a reputation as being ahead of the curve when it comes to adapting to new technology. From the huge Internet reach to the saturation of mobile devices, Malaysians are better connected than ever.
ReplyDeleteThis hasn't happened by accident. Long ago it was recognised that keeping up with the latest technology would be vital to Malaysia's aim of reaching developed nation status.
Simple measures like low import tariffs on electronics mean that shopping centres like Plaza LowYat can thrive with tourists and locals alike enjoying the best deals.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, according to figures from Hongkiat released this month, Malaysia has some of the best prices not only in Asia for certain brands such as Apple, it has better prices even than those in the U.S. and Europe.
A MacBook Air for example starts at around RM 2,999. That's some $70 cheaper than the $999 entry price in the United States. That's also cheaper than the starting price of $1,051 in Singapore or $999 in Hong Kong, both traditional consumer electronics hubs in the region.
ReplyDeleteTelecom network liberalisation has been another major achievement of recent Governments.
According to the International Telecommunication Union, there are 127 phone subscriptions for every 100 people in Malaysia, making us the third most mobile connected country in ASEAN just behind Singapore and Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteIn all, ICT constitutes 10.5% of GDP in Malaysia and the goal is to boost it to 17% by 2020.
Increasingly the focus on technology is starting at school. Primary and secondary schools are being equipped with wireless and netbook devices; the Government wants a ratio of one device for every five students by next year.
ReplyDeleteJust last month it was Chinese telecoms giant Huawei's turn to sign an agreement with Putrajaya, making sure that people are better prepared to be connected and from an earlier age.
Working closely with the Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation, Huawei is undertaking a major initiative to help promote digital education here, in line with the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
ReplyDeleteHuawei will provide assistance in the latest digital technologies in our schools and colleges, with cloud computing, high speed broadband, digital and mobile terminals as well as digital contents delivery platforms.
"As we move towards our aspirations of a high income, innovation-led and knowledge-based economy, such collaboration is timely," said Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin.
ReplyDelete"We actively encourage and promote the adoption of latest digital technologies to help digitalize our way of delivering education to our students who are more sophisticated today."
Technology akan memainkan peranan yang penting dalam pendidikan.
ReplyDeleteSetuju, walaupun mahal jika berbaloi untuk masa depan tak salah rasanya melabur kan.
DeleteSetiap pelaburan harus juga dinilai "return" nya.
DeleteHubungan ICT, pendidikan kekal saing - Muhyiddin
ReplyDeleteKUALA LUMPUR: Menteri Pendidikan, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini mengingatkan rakyat mengenai pertikaian hubungan antara teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi (ICT) dan pendidikan.
Beliau berkata ICT memang membawa perubahan walaupun penyelidikan lebih 30 tahun masih belum membuat kesimpulan bahawa bidang teknologi itu telah memberi kesan kepada pendidikan
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata ICT memang membawa perubahan walaupun penyelidikan lebih 30 tahun masih belum membuat kesimpulan bahawa bidang teknologi itu telah memberi kesan kepada pendidikan.
ReplyDeleteTeknologi berkait rapat dengan semua bidang sekarang.
Delete"Sebaliknya, ia amat korelasi dan ini turut diiktiraf oleh Pertubuhan Pendidikan, Saintifik dan Kebudayaan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (Unesco).
ReplyDelete"Pada 2011, penerbitan badan dunia itu menyatakan bahawa hubungan antara ICT dan pembelajaran pelajar adalah lebih rumit daripada yang berasaskan kepada ketersediaan semata-mata atau pengunaan. Apa yang penting ialah bagaimana ICT digunakan dan apa yang diuji," katanya.
Walaupun begitu, Malaysia tidak mampu mengambil risiko dengan masa depan negara, katanya pada perasmian Persidangan dan Pameran 'The Digital Education Show Asia 2013' di sini.
ReplyDeleteKerajaan harus memastikan setiap perubahan membawa manfaat dan bukan merisikokan negara.
DeleteTeks ucapannya dibacakan oleh Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan I, Datuk Mary Yap Kian Ching.
ReplyDeleteDalam ucapannya, Muhyiddin juga menyatakan nilai dan bahaya 'pengasuh digital' di mana ibu bapa memberi peranti 'tablet' untuk anak-anak mereka seawal usia empat tahun daripada meluahkan masa bersama anak-anak mereka.
"Bagaimanapun, saya berpendapat trend ini mempunyai kedua-dua nilai dan bahaya. Walaupun pembelajaran boleh berlaku dengan pengunaan alat-alat ini tetapi lebih sering ibu bapa menggunakan peranti ini bagi mengalih perhatian daripada meluahkan masa bersama anak-anak mereka," katanya.
ReplyDeleteMuhyiddin, yang juga Timbalan Perdana Menteri, berkata banyak laporan menyatakan bahawa kanak-kanak bermain permainan dan berinteraksi dalam talian tanpa pengawasan sehingga menyebabkan kanak-kanak ini menjadi ketagih kepada peranti seperti itu.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata jurang antara pembelajaran dan penerimaan adalah paradoks.
Ini juga kelemahan perkembangan teknologi. Teknologi menambahkan jurang antara semua lapisan.
Delete"Kita ingin melihat kanak-kanak belajar dengan peranti ini tetapi pada masa sama, kita mahu mereka mengambil kandungan dan aplikasi secara bertanggungjawab dan beretika.
ReplyDelete"Oleh itu, saya percaya celik digital adalah penting kerana ia memastikan soal tanggungjawab dan etika sebagai sebahagian daripada warga siber di Malaysia," katanya.
Muhyiddin berkata beliau sedar bahawa ICT dan teknologi berubah pada kadar yang lebih pantas daripada perubahan di peringkat sekolah.
ReplyDelete"Oleh itu pendidikan perlu fleksibel dalam menggabungkan ICT di sekolah. Saya juga khuatir bahawa kadar perubahan teknologi mungkin menyebabkan guru-guru sentiasa menjadi pendatang baru dalam bidang teknologi," katanya.
ReplyDeleteBahaya lain seperti cabaran sosial dan etika perlu ditangani, katanya.
ReplyDelete"Pelaksanaan jelas dan berstruktur perlu bagi menampung perubahan ini serta menyokong kemasukkan sifat penyertaan teknologi dan masyarakat," katanya. - BERNAMA
PUSAT perkembangan pendidikan awal kanak-kanak, Educate to Learn Sdn. Bhd., (e2L) dengan kerjasama Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (PNM) memperkenal program PNM i-play untuk membantu golongan itu berkembang serta belajar melalui bermain.
ReplyDeleteDi bawah program itu, sebanyak 10 perpustakaan dilengkapi permainan i-play tajaan Yayasan EMKAY yang mengandungi alat-alat permainan atau sumber pembelajaran yang boleh diguna atau dipinjam kanak-kanak, ibu bapa, pendidik dan penyelidik.
ReplyDeleteTelnologi akan memanfaatkan jika digunakan dengan positif dan sebaliknya.
DeleteKetua Pengarah PNM, Datuk Raslin Abu Bakar berkata, di bawah kerjasama itu, perpustakaan milik Kolej Perkembangan Awal Kanak-Kanak yang dinaungi oleh salah sebuah anak syarikat e2L iaitu Early Years Development Sdn. Bhd., Perpustakaan Wan Nong dijadikan Perpustakaan Angkat PNM.
ReplyDelete"Antara keistimewaan yang dinikmati pengunjung termasuklah kemudahan pinjaman buku secara pukal kepada pihak kolej dan pada masa yang sama, pelajar boleh menyertai program atau aktiviti berkaitan bidang pendidikan awal kanak-kanak seperti sesi bercerita bersama kanak-kanak," katanya
ReplyDeleteMenurut Raslin, disebabkan impak berkesan daripada penubuhan 10 perpustakaan PNM i-play, maka kerjasama ini diteruskan dengan penubuhan Sudut Pembelajaran Kanak-Kanak di 16 buah Perpustakaan Desa.
ReplyDelete''Hal ini selaras dengan hasrat kami dalam memberikan peluang kepada kanak-kanak di desa atau di kawasan kampung untuk belajar melalui bermain menggunakan bahan permainan yang berkualiti tinggi,'' ujarnya.
ReplyDeleteSelain itu, kata Raslin, petugas Perpustakaan Desa juga akan diberikan latihan khusus bagi membolehkan mereka mengaplikasikan aktiviti atau permainan bersama kanak-kanak dalam komuniti mereka.
ReplyDeleteSementara itu, menurut Farah Mahami, di bawah usaha itu, pihaknya dan penglibatan aktif PNM bertujuan menyediakan persekitaran pembelajaran yang kondusif, selesa dan selamat untuk kanak-kanak berkembang dan belajar melalui bermain.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berharap melalui program PNM i-play, usaha tersebut mampu meningkatkan minat dan penglibatan kanak-kanak, pelajar serta masyarakat umum di samping membantu mereka memperoleh manfaat dan memahami konsep belajar melalui bermain.
ReplyDeleteDeputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has reiterated Barisan Nasional's manifesto promise on education. He said that from next year, every school student in Malaysia would have access to a laptop if BN gets a strong mandate.
ReplyDeleteThe DPM, who is also the caretaker Education Minister, said that the school curriculum would be widened to incorporate IT use in other lessons in line with the technology-centric trajectory of the nation as it matures.
ReplyDelete"I have proposed the use of IT in classrooms and the prime minister has agreed that all students will be supplied laptops. This is a commitment that has been included in the Barisan Nasional manifesto which we will fulfil," he said
ReplyDeleteImportantly, this is not some last minute vote-buyer. The plan was mulled last year at budget and again, more publically, in January after Muhyiddin's visit to a top performing high school in America.
ReplyDeleteDaphne High School was the recipient of National Blue Ribbon School Award 2012, honouring schools where students perform at exceptionally high levels. Muhyiddin was clearly impressed with what he saw from Daphne's innovative approach to education.
ReplyDelete"The students seem more independent and communicate well. It's definitely something we can emulate," he said at the time, noting the important role the laptops played in this success.
ReplyDelete"This is a good system, as the students can return the laptops after they graduate. The laptops can be insured against damage or loss. Let's see the possibility of implementing something like this in Malaysia."
ReplyDeleteSchools around the world including the US, the UK, France and Australia are increasingly recognising the importance of ICT in their curriculums. In Finland some students are even permitted to access the Internet during national examinations.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is dubbed epistemology by educators and refers to not just what students 'know' but whether they have the skills to acquire and correctly use that knowledge.
ReplyDeleteBarisan Nasional's proposal fits in well with this model and is in line with its long-standing position that education is at the top of the country's agenda."The Education Ministry receives 16 per cent of the national budget while the Higher Education Ministry gets five per cent, meaning 21 per cent goes for education alone," Muhyiddin noted.
ReplyDeleteSANDAKAN: Kerajaan negeri akan memastikan rakyat, khususnya golongan memerlukan, mendapat pembelaan sewajarnya pada bila-bila masa, kata Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) bukan hanya datang berjumpa rakyat pada musim pilihan raya sahaja, sebaliknya akan sentiasa turun padang bagi membela nasib mereka
ReplyDeleteKerajaan membantu rakyat tidak kira masa termasuk menyediakan kemudahan kepada mereka,” katanya pada majlis penyerahan bantuan zakat di Dewan Serbaguna Rancangan Luboh dekat sini kelmarin
ReplyDeleteMusa berkata kerajaan sentiasa mendengar keluhan rakyat dengan memberi contoh jalan rosak yang sering dihadapi pengguna di daerah ini akan dibaiki walaupun terpaksa melakukannya berulang kali ekoran faktor tertentu
ReplyDeleteJalan yang telah dibaiki kemudian rosak akan dibaiki semula, namun faktor cuaca dan lori sawit menjadikan jalan raya di sini masih dalam situasi dibaik pulih
ReplyDeletePada majlis itu seramai 917 penduduk sekitar Rancangan Luboh menerima bantuan zakat daripada Pusat Zakat Sabah dan Lembaga Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Sabah (LKTNS)
ReplyDeleteHubungan dua hala antara Polis Di Raja Malaysia (PDRM) dan masyarakat terus diperkukuhkan dari semasa ke semasa termasuklah pada bulan Ramadhan, kata Timbalan Ketua Polis Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan, DSP Douglas Nyegong Taong.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata demikian kepada New Sabah Times ketika mengetuai Program High Profile Policing yang membuat rondaan di kawasan Bazar Ramadhan di Labuan Walk, dekat sini, kelmarin
ReplyDeleteHigh Profile Policing’ adalah salah satu program yang PDRM laksanakan untuk mendekati masyarakat di lokasi begini yang lebih santai, dapat bertemu dengan orang ramai tanpa perasaan takut di lokasi yang mungkin tidak dijangkakan oleh mereka,” katanya
ReplyDeleteDouglas berkata, hubungan antara PDRM dan masyarakat bukan saja perlu diperkukuhkan, malah kerjasama orang ramai dalam menyalurkan sebarang maklumat mengenai kegiatan jenayah khususnya diperingkat kampung amatlah dialu-alukan
ReplyDeleteProgram yang mendapat sambutan baik daripada oranng ramai itu melibatkan enam pegawai dan 11 anggota yang membuat rondaan di samping bertanyakan khabar dan masalah keselamatan di persekitaran mereka.
ReplyDeleteKerajaan negeri akan memastikan rakyat, khususnya golongan memerlukan, mendapat pembelaan sewajarnya pada bila-bila masa, kata Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) bukan hanya datang berjumpa rakyat pada musim pilihan raya sahaja, sebaliknya akan sentiasa turun padang bagi membela nasib mereka.
ReplyDeleteKerajaan membantu rakyat tidak kira masa termasuk menyediakan kemudahan kepada mereka,” katanya pada majlis penyerahan bantuan zakat di Dewan Serbaguna Rancangan Luboh dekat sini kelmarin
ReplyDeleteMusa berkata kerajaan sentiasa mendengar keluhan rakyat dengan memberi contoh jalan rosak yang sering dihadapi pengguna di daerah ini akan dibaiki walaupun terpaksa melakukannya berulang kali ekoran faktor tertentu.
ReplyDeleteJalan yang telah dibaiki kemudian rosak akan dibaiki semula, namun faktor cuaca dan lori sawit menjadikan jalan raya di sini masih dalam situasi dibaik pulih
ReplyDeletePada majlis itu seramai 917 penduduk sekitar Rancangan Luboh menerima bantuan zakat daripada Pusat Zakat Sabah dan Lembaga Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Sabah (LKTNS)
ReplyDeletesalah satu program kerajaan yang memberikan masa depan yang cerah kepada para pelajar
ReplyDeletesetiap pelajar akan menerima komputer riba di bawah program ini adalah idea yang sangat bagus sekali.
ReplyDeleteprogram sedemikian adalah bagus untuk masa depan para pelajar di Malaysia
ReplyDeletesekurang-kurangnya program yang dianjurkan oleh kerajaan ini akan melahirkan generasi celik IT
ReplyDeletememberikan lebih banyak peluang pekerjaan kepada mereka apabila tamat persekolahan nanti
ReplyDelete