Digital Minister gives Tamil schools’ ICT meet thumbs up, hopes more of such competitions in other schools nationwide

The National Level Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competition for Tamil School Students 2024 concluded earlier today, but it could ignite more tech-related events in Malaysian schools soon.

Approximately 2,100 students participated in the event at the state level, with 240 selected to participate at the national level. For the record, the competition has been going on since 2015.

Thus, it was only natural for Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo to give the competition the thumbs up.

“This is an important event. It is also extremely important for our children to understand the power of digital technology and how it can improve our lives,” he said at the event’s closing and prize presentation ceremony at Multimedia University in Cyberjaya, Selangor this afternoon.

“I see many students here, and they are accompanied by their parents and teachers. I hope such an initiative can be implemented in all schools at every level nationwide.”

He added the Digital Ministry would provide its full support for such events.

“I see the Digital Ministry as a bridge between the educational institutions and the government ... how we can provide the required infrastructure in schools and universities and how we can collaborate to create a country that’s digitally-savvy.”

He added that schools had requested upgrades to their infrastructure.

“Moving forward, we would like to assess the general needs of schools,” he said.

“We will collaborate closely with the Education Ministry and the Higher Learning Ministry to ensure every school and higher learning institution in the country is equipped (with infrastructure) to ensure that technology-related subjects can be effectively taught.”

The newly established National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Office will be able to assess the needs of educational hubs across the country. Gobind said it will also provide recommendations to the government for developing a policy that ensures no one is left behind in the effort to create a digitally-savvy nation.

During the tabling of Budget 2025 last October, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that education related to AI will be expanded in all research universities with an allocation of RM50 million.

In Malaysia, primary school students will begin learning the basics of artificial intelligence (AI) in 2027. According to a report from last March, the new school curriculum will include ‘Fasih Digital’ (digital savvy) as one of the seven key competencies that must be mastered by schoolchildren.