BALAI RINGIN: A total of 20 interactive whiteboards have been given to schools in the Balai Ringin area as part of efforts to strengthen digital education and bridge the technology gap between rural and urban schools.

The initiative was undertaken by Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan as an effort to improve the quality of teaching and learning through a more interactive and technology-based approach.

According to him, rural schools also deserve access to technology facilities comparable to those in urban schools so that students are not left behind in the evolving education landscape.

"Education is my priority. I want every child in this area to receive the best learning opportunities irrespective of their family background," he said during his speech at the contribution handover ceremony on Wednesday.

He added that this was not the first such contribution, noting that several schools in Balai Ringin had previously received smart televisions for classroom use to support teaching and learning sessions.

Meanwhile, the Balai Ringin Assemblyman announced that Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pantu had been chosen as the robotics programme centre to provide early exposure to students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Datuk Snowdan said that the centre would be equipped with various robotics equipment and could be used by nearby schools to expand access to technology-based education.

"In addition, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Balai Ringin will also receive a dedicated information technology (IT) room complete with computers and related facilities to encourage digital learning among students," he explained.

He added that the government provides an annual allocation of about RM10 million under the creative industry initiative to support youth talent development and skills training in various fields.

According to him, the funds could be used to organise courses, training programmes and engage professional instructors in areas such as animation, computer graphics, digital media, television production and radio.

“If participation in a programme involves a small group, assistance of around RM20,000 to RM30,000 can be channelled.

“For larger-scale programmes, the amount can reach RM50,000 to RM100,000 depending on requirements,” he added. -UKASnews