Virtual school concept in 2 years — Muhyiddin
Posted on December 31, 2011, Saturday
HOW ARE YOU?: Muhyiddin (centre) sharing a light moment with a student’s parent from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Tun Dr Ismail (SMKTTDI) during his visit to the school to oversee the registration of new students for the new school session next year. Also seen is the principal of the school, Datin Hasmah Abu (left) — Bernama photo
It allows parents to interact with school authorities via video conferencing
KUALA LUMPUR: Parents can keep track of their children’s education via the virtual concept to be introduced in schools in two years, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Set to be implemented as pilot project in some schools next year, it will among others, allow
parents to interact with school authorities via video conferencing.
“We are at pilot stage of virtual learning concept modeled after developed countries like South Korea,” he told reporters after a surprise visit to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Tun Dr Ismail, here yesterday.
Muhyiddin visited South Korea last year to check out the education system using information communication technology (ICT) and National Education Information System (NEIS), a computer network connecting all schools.
With NEIS, parents could gather more information on their children’s educational performance by communicating directly with teachers online.
“Based on this information, parents can reach teachers directly for advice based on the students performance,” said the education minister.
The network allows parents to monitor children’s development at school and communicate with teachers on the Internet.
Earlier, he said parents should be involved in the schooling system as it has been proven that their involvement has brought success.
“In the many countries visited, I was first greeted by parents and not teachers, like in Australia. When asked, parents told me ‘we come here to help our schools because our kids are here.”
Muhyiddin stressed that history showed that only education could change the fate of the people and nation.
“During independence, 70 per cent of the people were poor. There were schools but the colonialists did not offer assistance.
“After independence, we found a solution in education to help the people escape poverty which has since been reduced.”
He said under the Barisan Nasional (BN) government many fields are now being controlled by Malaysians, all because of quality education. — Bernama
