Gov’t to introduce e-textbooks for Secondary School from 2019 in Malaysia

The Deputy Education Minister said the ministry is discussing whether to let students download the e-books on their personal devices or on school computers.

“For now, it’s only in PDF, but we will make it more interactive down the road,” Teo said, adding that students still have the option of using regular textbooks.

“Once the e-textbooks are introduced, we will look at whether its use is accepted,” the Star quoted her as saying at the ministry’s Innovation Day celebration in Putrajaya.

Educationist N. Siva Subramaniam was quoted by The Star as saying that the move to digitise secondary school is timely and set to boost the education system.

“It’s undeniable that private schools are more advanced, but we have to start somewhere, and digital textbooks are the way to go,” he said, adding that the ministry can work with parent-teacher associations and private companies to equip the schools.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. Parents and society must invest in the nation’s education system if we want our children to do well. We cannot just rely on the government to provide everything,” the educationist was quoted as saying by The Star yesterday.

Harry argued that allowing smartphones and tablets in schools could lead to students playing games or accessing inappropriate content instead of studying.

“Allowing such gadgets could lead to students becoming competitive as to who has the latest and best device. Teachers too will be burdened. Can you imagine if these devices get stolen?” the NUTP secretary-general was quoted as saying by The Star.