KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 1,180 schools in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak have yet to be equipped with fibre-optic internet facilities, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the figure represented 22 per cent of the 5,362 schools in the six states, while the remaining 4,182 schools, or 78 per cent, had access to fibre-optic internet at speeds ranging from 300 to 800 megabits per second (Mbps).
He said schools that had yet to receive fibre-optic facilities were nevertheless provided with internet services through wireless broadband and satellite technologies.
"Of the total, Sarawak recorded 759 schools that have yet to transition to fibre-optic technology due to its vast geographical area and logistical challenges in rural and remote locations," he said during the question-and-answer session.
He was replying to a question from Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) on the number and percentage of schools in the six states that had yet to meet the Education Ministry's (MOE) standards for internet speed and stability, as well as the timeline for digital education and artificial intelligence (AI) readiness.
By state, Pahang recorded 181 schools (24 per cent) that had yet to adopt fibre-optic technology, followed by Sabah with 177 schools (14 per cent), Kelantan with 45 schools (eight per cent), Kedah with 14 schools (two per cent) and Terengganu with four schools (one per cent).
On digital education and AI readiness, Wong said the ministry was implementing phased strategic planning through the Digital Education Policy and the Malaysia Education Blueprint (RPM) 2026-2035.
He said that in the short-term phase from 2026 to 2027, the ministry would focus on developing an AI-driven digital learning ecosystem, including the development of the DELIMa 3.0 platform and the pilot implementation of AI-Powered Classrooms in 27 selected schools.
"For the medium-term phase from 2028 to 2030, the implementation of AI-Powered Classrooms will be expanded in stages based on the readiness of educational institutions, encompassing the provision of devices, stable internet connectivity, Wi-Fi coverage and enhancement of teachers' digital competencies.
"Meanwhile, for the long-term phase from 2031 to 2035, the ministry aims to implement comprehensive AI-based personalised learning, supported by the use of DELIMa 3.0 as well as Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure," he said.
In response to a supplementary question from Nurul Amin on measures to address the misuse of AI, including the manipulation of pupils' and teachers' images to produce humiliating content, Wong said the ministry had finalised the AI Literacy Guidelines, which outlined the roles of schools, teachers, pupils and parents.
He said the guidelines covered four main domains, namely AI governance, teaching and learning, lifelong learning and AI ethics. –BERNAMA
1,180 schools in six states still without fibre-optic internet