Students' Low-cost Access to High-speed Internet Outside of School

9 Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked the Minister for Communications and Information what are the Ministry’s plans to ensure that all students have easy and low-cost access to high-speed Internet outside of school.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Minister for Communications and Information): Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to equipping all Singaporeans, including students, with a baseline of affordable digital access.

Almost all households with school-going children have access to broadband. Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)'s NEU PC Plus and Home Access programmes provide a subsidised device and broadband connectivity to low-income households, including those with school-going children. From January 2020 to September 2021, over 20,000 low-income households with school-going children have benefited through the NEU PC Plus programme.

IMDA's digital access programmes are complemented by MOE's provisions for students to access the Internet to support Home-Based Learning. During the recent full Home-Based Learning in May 2021, schools loaned out Internet-enabling devices to students who lacked Internet access at home. Students also had the option to return to school to use computing facilities. Alternatively, students may also tap on Wireless@SG deployed at public spaces, like the public libraries and Community Clubs (CC), for free out-of-home Internet connectivity.

Citizens’ needs evolve, and the Government reviews our initiatives to ensure citizens from needy households also have access to affordable high-speed Internet. Most recently, in 2020, broadband speed under IMDA’s NEU PC Plus and Home Access programmes were increased from 300Mbps to 500Mbps. This is able to support a typical family for common daily activities, such as video calls and video streaming. The Government will continue to review our provisions to meet the digital connectivity needs of students outside school.

Mr Speaker: Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong.

Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong (Jurong): I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for sharing and I would want to commend MOE and IMDA in the past two years in really equipping students and giving them digital access. One question is, given the proliferation of more digital and online educational resources and the increase in home-based learning, I was wondering whether the Ministry will consider further expanding the provision for Home Access programmes beyond the two years to better serve those in disadvantaged circumstances and give them more accessibility, especially outside of school and having to be at home?

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: I thank the Member for the question. I appreciate his concern for those who may be in a bit more disadvantaged situation. I would just like to highlight to the Member that for the Home Access beneficiaries, they can actually reapply at the end of the two-year period, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and there is actually no limit to the number of times they can apply, as long as they can meet the eligibility requirements. And this applies also to the NEU PC Plus programmes. I understand his concerns and we are committed to equip all Singaporeans with the basic affordable digital access. So, we will continue to review the provisions to meet the needs, especially of those who are in a more disadvantaged situation, so that they have easy and affordable access to high-speed Internet outside school and in common places.