Primary School Children with Limited or No Access to Digital Devices and Network Connection for Learning

The following question stood in the name of Mr Darryl David –

1 To ask the Minister for Education (a) what is the current percentage of primary school children who have limited or no access to digital devices and wifi for learning and education; and (b) what are the available schemes at the Ministry to ensure that these children have access to such digital devices and wifi so that their learning and education are not compromised.

Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar): Question No 1, Sir.

The Minister of State for Education (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has provided all primary schools with sufficient Internet-enabled devices to support students' learning in school. MOE also periodically reviews the level of provision to ensure that it meets the needs of schools' teaching and learning programmes.

In cases where primary students need to use devices after school hours but lack digital devices, schools can loan computers and Internet-enabling devices to students who need to use devices at home for school work. Our students also have the option to use the computing facilities in school.