Why do we need DidikTV with schools reopening, asks Tok Mat

 

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan said the flip-flop decision to close and reopen schools sends mixed signals on the education ministry’s real direction in online learning. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Umno has taken the education ministry to task over its decision to announce the reopening of schools soon after launching DidikTV, saying that many poor parents have been forced to spend money on gadgets for online learning, too.

Its deputy president, Mohamad Hasan, said if the government had decided on the gradual return to schools earlier, it could have eased the burden of many poor parents. The government, too, could have saved money by not launching DidikTV.

Mohamad Hasan.

“The flip-flop decision to close and reopen schools should have stopped because it sends mixed signals on the ministry’s real direction on online learning,” he said in a statement, adding that it cannot afford such indecision in the education system.

The ministry launched the DidikTV channel earlier this week in an attempt to make online teaching and learning a success.

Mohamad, who is often referred to as Tok Mat, said the ministry should strengthen the digital learning platform while waiting for the country to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, education minister Radzi Jidin announced the reopening of pre-schools and primary schools from March 1 and secondary schools from April 4.

He said the decision to reopen secondary schools in April was because the 2020 cohort of Form 5 students will be sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exam in March. - FMT