Tackling digital divide in remote Sabah schools
Published on: Saturday, March 23, 2019
By: Iffah Dilaney
LABUAN: Universiti Sabah Malaysia (UMS) is looking into developing and implementing the first cost effective satellite broadband services for Sabah remote schools to tackle the significant digital divide there.Associate Prof. Dr. Syed Nasirin (pic) said as satellite broadband technology has fundamental advantages relevant to remote schools, UMS will embark upon a cost-effective formulation of satellite broadband implementation research project.
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“In Malaysia, new learning applications are emerging as internet technologies are used in novel ways for a wide range of educational purposes.
“This growing dependence upon the internet suggests that internet broadband should be universally available as a utility: an essential tool for participation, even for the school children in the remote areas,” he said.
Unfortunately, he shared that some schools still, do not have satisfactory broadband access, a problem likely to seriously affect those living remotely.
“This phenomenon has significantly enlarged the digital divide gap between those children in the remote areas and those who have strong access to the internet.
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“In short, residents inhabiting remote areas have and will continue to suffer the most,” he told Daily Express when contacted on Friday.
Syed said the primary aim of the research project is to reduce the digital divide gap between those who have the internet broadband access and those who are not while the primary beneficiaries of the proposed project are school children, teachers and parents.
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“Satellite broadband technologies are chosen due to its limited downtimes, immediate accessibility, signal stability and ubiquitousness,” he explained.
He shared that a team of wireless system implementation experts from UMS Labuan campus will look after the three-year research project.
Assc Prof. Dr. Syed Nasirin who came back to Sabah in 2011 under the TalentCorp Returning Program will spearhead the initiative.
He said with the latest development in satellite broadband technologies, his team should be able to help those in the remote areas to enjoy the same privileges of those in the internet luxury areas.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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