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The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have ready access to digital technologies (like internet, computers, and mobile devices) and those who do not, due to geographic, economic, or social reasons.

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🇲🇾 Digital Divide in Malaysia – The Situation

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🇲🇾 Digital Divide in Malaysia – The Situation

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1.Urban vs Rural Gap

Students in urban areas often have strong internet, multiple devices, and tech-savvy families.

In rural and remote areas (e.g., Sabah, Sarawak, Orang Asli villages), many students:

Lack internet access or rely on unstable mobile data.

Share a single device among several siblings.

Travel to higher ground or towns just to get a signal.

2. Students Affected

Low-income (B40) families are disproportionately affected.

Refugee, undocumented, and stateless children often lack any access to formal digital learning.

Children with disabilities may lack access to adaptive digital tools (screen readers, captioning, etc.).

3. Teachers Affected

Many teachers, especially in rural areas, were not fully trained in digital pedagogy.

Some struggled with creating online lessons, using learning platforms (like Google Classroom), or engaging students virtually.

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Impact of the Digital Divide on Education in Malaysia

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Impact of the Digital Divide on Education in Malaysia

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1. Widening of Learning Inequality

Students with access to fast internet and digital tools continued learning during school closures.

Those without access missed out on months or years of learning, creating a significant achievement gap.

Rural and B40 students (bottom 40% income group) are the most affected.

2. Decline in Academic Performance

Many students couldn't attend virtual classes regularly or complete assignments.

Lack of teacher feedback, real-time interaction, and peer support weakened understanding.

Subjects like science and math, which often need guided explanation, were most affected.

3. Increased Risk of Dropout

Prolonged absence from school due to digital barriers led some students to:

Lose interest in learning

Take up jobs to support their families

Face mental health issues or isolation

4. Low Student Engagement & Motivation

Students in low-connectivity zones faced:

Boring or passive learning experiences (e.g., watching pre-recorded videos)

No real-time teacher interaction

Lack of digital learning materials in native languages or for special needs

5. Assessment and Examination Challenges

National exams (like SPM) were delayed or disrupted.

Some students couldn’t complete online assessments due to tech issues.

Teachers had to rely on less consistent evaluation methods, creating gaps in learning outcomes.

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MOE data (2021) indicated an increase in dropout rates among secondary school students post-COVID.

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What Malaysia Is Doing to Address the Divide

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What Malaysia Is Doing to Address the Divide

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Digital Education Policy 2021–2025

Launched by the Ministry of Education to improve digital infrastructure and literacy.

Focus on integrating ICT into teaching and learning.

PerantiSiswa Program

Government initiative to distribute free tablets to students in higher education from B40 families.

Expansion of Internet Coverage

Investments in the JENDELA initiative to improve broadband access in rural and underserved areas.

TVET & Digital Skills Training

Increased focus on technical and vocational education that includes digital competencies and IT skills.

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Device shortages in households with multiple children.

Electricity and infrastructure issues in the most remote villages.

Lack of localized content (e.g., in native languages or tailored to local needs).

Cybersecurity awareness and digital safety are still low among students and teachers.

Teacher training still varies in quality and reach.

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Provide subsidized internet/data plans for education use.

Train teachers in digital pedagogy and content creation.

Build community learning hubs with digital access in rural areas.

Embed digital citizenship, ethics, and safety in the national curriculum.

Strengthen partnerships with tech companies for low-cost devices and platforms.