Students in Malaysia are still not allowed to freely bring and use personal devices such as mobile phones on school grounds, despite the continued expansion of digital education.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the existing ban remains in place to ensure schools remain safe, conducive, and supportive of students’ well being, reported NST.
Phone ban still applies with limited exceptions
Speaking during a Dewan Negara question and answer session, Fadhlina explained that the policy is primarily focused on student safety.
However, she said the Ministry of Education recognises the growing role of digital learning and has allowed limited use of personal devices under specific conditions.
She added that a circular issued in 2018 outlines guidelines for students to bring personal devices to school strictly for teaching and learning purposes.
Clear rules to prevent misuse
According to Fadhlina, the guidelines include conditions of use, regulatory procedures, and clearly defined responsibilities for students, teachers, and school administrators.
These measures are meant to prevent issues such as access to inappropriate content, screen addiction, and excessive online gaming among students.
Fadhlina also said the ministry works with other agencies to ensure responsible device use in schools.
These include intervention and awareness programmes carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and police.
She stressed that while device use may be allowed due to current needs, it must be done responsibly and with integrity.
Teachers play a key role in digital learning
Fadhlina added that the ministry is also prioritising teacher competency to help educators guide students through digital changes in education.
She pointed to the DELIMA platform as an example of successful digital education implementation.
As of November, active usage on the platform reached 99% among teachers and 64% among students, showing steady adoption within schools nationwide.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
READ ALSO:
