Transformational Ability of ICT

Malaysia has long recognized the transformational ability of ICT that would propel the country from p-economy to k-economy. The national ICT Council (NITC) was formed in under the 6th Malaysian Plan (1990-1995) to ensure ICT would be well integrated into the fabric of the Malaysian society. To further the agenda of the NITC, National ICT Agenda (NITA) was formulated in the 7th Malaysia plan (1996-2000) as a catalyst to transform Malaysian economy into value-based economy with development human capital, infrastructure and applications4. It was during this period that the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) was launched. In an effort to move towards a knowledge-based economic nation, an effective utilization of ICT as tools as well as enabling access to all levels of the population to ICT are the fundamentals that must be laid out very soundly. Policies that will move Malaysia in that direction must be put in place. Of particular important is the Vision 2020 policy that sees Malaysia as a fully developed nation in 2020 in her own mould. To drive the Transformation, Malaysia Multimedia Super Corridor(MSC) was established in 1996. Modeled to be a world-class hub for development and nurturing of the Nation's ICT industry, the MSC provides first-world knowledge and infrastructure, at developing-nation costs6. In line with the country’s information and communication technology (ICT) master plan (2) and Vision 20206, which envisages its longer-term development, Malaysia recognizes that the transformation of its education system is fundamental to achieving its objectives. The Ministry of Education, with the participation of non-governmental agencies, is focusing on the development of new media for use as educational, organisational and partnership-building tools, and as a means for bridging the country’s digital divide and empowering learners. Due to its belief that ICT can revolutionise education and learning, the Ministry plans to integrate ICT into education on a fundamental level, incorporating systems to facilitate management, information gathering, access, and various forms of communication.

ICT in education policy

The Ministry of Education articulation of ICT in education focused on three main areas.

ICT will be used as an enabler to reduce the digital divide between the country’s schools by enabling;

ICT access for all students;

ICT will be used as teaching and learning tools in education, taught as an independent subject and

ICT will be used to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of management in education.

The translation of the policies into real life calls for transformation of the ICT development plan. Malaysia ICT development plan aims to Intensify the development of the ICT infrastructure;

• Expand access to and equity for ICT facilities;

• Improve assessment and evaluation systems using ICT;

• Emphasise ICT integration into teaching and learning processes;

• Improve ICT knowledge and skills of students, teachers and other personnel;

• Intensify usage of ICT in education management;

• Improve the management and maintenance of ICT equipment;

• Increase research and development efforts in ICT; and

• Increase cooperation between educational institution and the community towards expansion of ICT in education

SOURCE : http://www.scribd.com/doc/19335654/ICT-in-Malaysia

AUTHOR : Shamsuddin Hassan