Oviyasri Prabu was a little apprehensive when presented an android device from Deloitte and free 40GB Internet data from YTL Foundation.
She was also a little nervous when using it for the first time during a lesson conducted via Zoom but once she got over her nerves, it was smooth sailing.
“This was the first time any of us (in the class) had e-learning,” said the 11-year-old Oviyasri.
“I had some trouble listening to the lessons in the beginning but after a few minutes, it got better.
“I guess I was just too nervous. I’m so excited to own an android device and would like to thank everyone who thought of us.”
Also excited to be part of the pilot programme was Amyraqistina Nor Azwan, who like Oviyasri, was among 100 lucky children from Desa Mentari who will enjoy e-learning thanks to Deloitte, YTL Foundation and Petaling Jaya Residents Association (MyPJ).
“I’m so excited. I can’t wait to try this,” she said before her class. “We are extremely lucky to be chosen. I can’t believe it. This is going to be good.”
Deloitte spent RM60,000 to buy the devices while YTL Foundation gave away the free YES 4G SIM cards to power the students, who will also have access to the Frog virtual learning environment (VLE).
Yee Wing Peng, chief executive officer of Deloitte Malaysia, said the accounting firm’s Deloitte KidsEdu, a corporate social responsibility programme, is focused on making education accessible to children in the B40 group.
As such, about 65 of its staff have been volunteering as tuition teachers in several public low-cost housing areas in the Klang Valley and Penang.
“We are continually adapting and changing the way we do things during this pandemic. Education is one of them and the shift towards online education has its fair share of challenges,” said Yee.
“Without access to technology, many children in Malaysia are finding it difficult to adopt home-based virtual learning.
“We hope this incentive will help nurture students with the needed core skills for the future of work.”
Datin Kathleen Chew, Programming Director of YTL Foundation, said the foundation is delighted to help children from high-need communities have access to online learning.
“When the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented (on March 18) and schools were closed, we introduced the Learn From Home Initiative to enable teaching and learning to continue at home,” said Chew.
“Working with YTL Communications and FrogAsia, we provide 4G SIM cards with free mobile data to children in government schools as well as free mobile phones and data to students from B40 families.
“This collaboration (with Deloitte) is another step towards ensuring no child is left behind in their education journey,” Chew added.
One of the people behind the collaboration is Jeffrey Phang, chairman of MyPJ.
“Deloitte has been helping the community in Desa Mentari for close to a year.
“Many of its staff have sacrificed time and effort to conduct tuition classes,” he said.
“We had 45 students who were part of the tuition classes but with this initiative, we can reach out to more than double that number,” added Phang.