The Context
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country with a multicultural populace and rich cultural history. Even with broad improvements in education, the nation continues to face difficult obstacles. These include inadequate infrastructure, little budget, and few resources, making it challenging to create an efficient educational environment. There are noticeable differences in the quality of education between rural and urban locations, with rural schools being devoid of funding and other necessities like internet access (The Star).
Furthermore, there are still ethnic and gender disparities, with male pupils at the secondary level having greater dropout rates. The curriculum has drawn criticism for being overly strict, which hinders pupils’ motivation and inventiveness. If Malaysia wants to ensure its residents have a more affluent and equitable future, it must address these concerns.
ST Foundation’s Presence
Malaysia was among the first countries to adopt the ST Foundation’s DU Program in 2004. It began at the Muar ST plant, where over 700 individuals were trained, including orphaned children, senior citizens, and ST employees. Although the initial phase concluded in early 2008, the initiative was revived in 2015 with the launch of a new course, the Tablet For Kids. This kickoff included a Train the Trainer activity facilitated by the Indian ST team, enabling our volunteers to engage young learners and introduce them to the benefits of technology.
Like many countries, Malaysia saw a pause in all initiatives due to the pandemic beginning in 2020, but after this forced interruption, all activities resumed successfully. As of the end of June 2024, the DU Program has trained over 600 individuals, continuing its commitment to enhancing digital literacy and access nationwide.
