PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry’s 1BestariNet project did not meet the two and a half year target to provide 4G broadband connectivity and virtual learning environment (VLE) to 10,000 schools nationwide, according to the 2013 Auditor-General’s report.
The third series of the report stated Monday that bandwidth connectivity in nearly 90% of 46 tested schools was “unsatisfactory”.
Another 58% of 501 schools assessed informed that access to the 1BestariNet server did not cover their entire school area.
The project, which was awarded by the ministry to YTL Communications Sdn Bhd in 2011, was implemented before teachers and students were fully trained to utilise the VLE, the report claimed.
“VLE usage by teachers, students and parents was very low, that was between 0.01% to 4.69%,” the report stated, adding that the proper school requirement studies were not conducted before the Internet connectivity in schools were installed.
The audit recommended that the ministry issue a guideline for VLE to all schools so that it could be optimised by teachers, students, parents and include an explanation on the right approach to teaching and learning using VLE.
It also urged the Prime Minister’s Office to carry out independent physical checks on VLE usage and Internet networks aside from the YTL’s YES monitoring system to ensure satisfactory access to 1BestariNet for all schools.
