The handphone debate

MOBILES IN SCHOOLS: Teachers and parents voice their views on new proposal

Students using mobile phones and information technology gadgets outside their school. Starting from next year students will be allowed to bring mobile phones and IT gadgets to school after the rules and regulations under the Education Act 1996 are amended. NSTP/Pic by Nurul Syazana Rose Razman

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 KUALA LUMPUR: PARENTS and teachers are divided over the Education Ministry's proposal to allow mobile phones in school, starting next year. 

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) claimed yesterday that all 180,000 members were against the policy.

However, parent-teacher associations contacted by the New Straits Times said the move was acceptable, provided strict regulations regarding usage were in place to ensure students did not abuse the privilege.

NUTP president Hashim Adnan said the union's members were worried teachers would become the "inevitable victims" of the proposal.

"If the government wants to allow handphones in schools, they must ensure that teachers will not be given the responsibility to safeguard their students' phones.

"On average, there are more than 2,000 pupils in each public school and if all of them bring a handphone to school, who will ensure that none of them go missing?"

Hashim added that NUTP members were against the government's proposal because it would not be conducive for all students.

"Not everyone can afford a handphone. Some students may feel insecure or depressed if they couldn't afford an expensive phone like their peers. How will that affect our students' self-confidence?"

On Monday, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong had announced the plans to amend regulations in the Education Act 1996.

He said the provision to allow students to bring handphones to schools would require strict guidelines.

National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ali Hasan said handphones would distract students in classrooms.

"While the teachers are teaching, the students will be busy with their handphones. The sound of ringtones and text message notifications will distract them from their lessons."

Ali was also concerned that the crime rate in schools would increase because of handphone thefts and bullying.

"If everyone brought their handphone to school, criminals would start targeting the schools instead. I suggest the government allow only certain type of handphones to be brought to school such as the basic ones with incoming call and text messaging features."

Parent Action Group chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, however, said allowing students to bring handphones to school could enhance communication between students and parents.

"This is important, especially for high school students who have extra-curricular activities. They can alert their parents on their whereabouts through the handphone."

Noor Azimah, however, cautioned that strict regulations must be imposed and agreed that handphones should only be used during certain hours in school.

She suggested lockers be installed in schools so that students could keep their textbooks and valuables safe.

 Leverage on disruptive technologies

With a commitment to disruptive innovation, the provision of public goods such as education may be far less costly and more accessible in the future

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JEFFREY D. Sachs, Professor of Economics and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University in the United States, is both a prolific writer and creative and erudite public intellectual.

In a recent commentary  in Project Syndicate,  Sachs has written an important piece titled Service Without Tears (www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/sachs184/English).

In this article,  Sachs points out that “a productivity revolution in service-sector delivery is now possible”.

Drawing on the example of how information technology has revolutionised the classroom,  he points out that “information technology is revolutionising the classroom and driving down the costs of producing first-rate educational materials. Many universities are putting their classes online for free, so that anyone in the world can learn Physics, Math or Economics from world-class faculty.”

I can attest to the way information technology is having an effect on my  work. All of my lectures are recorded and videoed, and students who otherwise might not have had the chance to access my lectures now have them. Readings and other resources are put online,  increasing accessibility.

Sachs makes the argument that the “same breakthroughs now possible in education can occur in healthcare”.

While  he points out the problems when key costs in healthcare are effectively controlled by associations and business interests which “act like monopolists, driving up costs”, the fact is that improvements in information technology and our capacity to communicate can significantly aid in addressing some of the critical issues we face in healthcare.

Sachs says: “Far too many people end up in the emergency room and the hospital because they lacked the advice and help to keep their conditions under control without institutional care, or even to prevent their disorders entirely.”

Companies that are practising disruptive innovation are  helping individuals to monitor their own conditions and connect them through  Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to experts who can advise them when necessary.

The use of community health workers to reach out to patients saves the costs of visiting a doctor and reintegrating people into community both through the use of ICT and the cheaper mechanism of increasing community outreach is making the cost of healthcare decline.

In a previous column, I discussed the importance of disruptive innovation (Disrupting The Status Quo, Learning Curve, Oct 30, 2011).  Sachs’ article reminds us that disruptive innovation is not just an idea.

It is a reality and governments and other health providers will increasingly take an interest in disruptively innovative ways to make healthcare more accessible and less costly just as is occurring in the educational sector.

Due to a combination of  creative delivery practices, advances in information technology and a commitment to disruptive innovation, the provision of public goods such as healthcare and education may in the future be far less costly and more accessible to all.

Many of our arguments in regard to social inclusion and  justice are in large measure debates  on the amount of finance given to public goods.  Through disruptive innovation, the cost of providing accessible and decent healthcare and education can be lowered.

The fundamental commitment of a community and nation to the principles of sustainability and inclusiveness can be met through accelerating multiple forms of innovation and creative uses of technology.

Such innovation can enable Malaysia to reach the goal of economic transformation in healthcare and education.

Leveraging advantage from low-cost structures and accelerating capacities in information technology and other disruptive technologies when combined with new ways of working may lead to a renewed confidence in Malaysia’s ability to advance the public good.

Such measures may allow  the country to overcome the tendency that increased competitive pressures have on accentuating inequality and social exclusion.

Malaysia can improve and expand on its already very good record of delivery of public goods, such as education and healthcare, through the use of disruptive innovation, technological applications and innovative ways of thinking about service provision.

These  approaches can help to make real the holistic aims of growth, inclusiveness and sustainability as outlined in the New Economic Model (NEM).

Sachs concluded his article and discussion of healthcare provision  by pointing out that “smart healthcare is therefore holistic”.

I want to expand on Sach’s argument and suggest that the smart provision of public goods and the transformational effort to base an economy on inclusiveness, sustainability and growth as outlined in   NEM is also holistic and, ultimately, disruptive.

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28 December 2011 | last updated at 05:16PM

M'sia needs to produce own cyber security software

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs to produce its own cyber information security software as depending on foreign software may risk information leaks and intelligence breaches, said a software expert here today.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Computer Science and Information Technology Faculty dean Prof Dr Ramlan Mahmod said infiltration could happen covertly as currently there was a lack of understanding on source code logic streams used by foreign software.

"At the moment, there is no software capable of checking the source code of software to ensure the software used is confirmed safe.     

"For the realisation of this information technology, the country needs to acquire 'technical knowhow' in information security and expertise in various fields such as computer science, mathematics and engineering," he told Bernama.

He said to acquire the expertise, the nation needed to carry out the foundation work such as training more experts in information technology and by bringing in more external technologies into the country.

Dr Ramlan said information leaks could happen in two situations, that is when the data was in transmission and hacking of existing data in storage.

"To prevent hackers from attacking data in transmission or unauthorised access to data storage, the information could be encrypted or hidden.

"This is the basis of information and software development important to ensure our cyber defence," he said.

He said the government needed to play a major role to set up a strong system of cyber defence as it needed financial commitment, expertise, legislation and continuous monitoring.

"Cyber security is the same as national security involving many operational aspects such as prevention, defence, detecting, intelligence and attack.

"It also needs sophiscated technical knowledge in information security and continuous upgrading of capability considering hackers are also improving their attacks," he said. -- BERNAMA

Digital papers an instant hit

MORE TO COME: 1,500 sign up for NST, BH and Metro

Readers downloading the New Straits Times e-paper on their iPad (right) and smartphone yesterday. The e-paper can also be viewed on a computer. Pic by Nurul Syazana Rose Razman

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   KUALA LUMPUR: WITHIN 12 hours of their launch, the new digital newspapers by New Straits Times Press received overwhelming response yesterday.

As at 5pm, more than 1,500 people had subscribed to the digital editions of the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.

NSTP information technology director Dr Rodaina Ibrahim said the subscriptions looked promising, adding that she was confident that the digital newspapers would reach their target soon.

"With better features to our digital newspapers, we believe they can increase our readerships in the near future.

"As we are looking at convenience and efficiency, one of the features, which allows readers to view pages while waiting for others to download, will allow us to meet our target," she said.

Rodaina said subscribers would not only be able to enjoy replicas of the printed newspapers, they would also receive breaking-news alerts, which are synchronised with the online versions of the papers.

The digital newspapers are available from 6am every day.

Among other features offered by the digital newspapers are video galleries, an audio reader function, the ability to share articles via Facebook, Twitter and email, zoom features, bookmarks and advanced search functions.

To enjoy the free trial period of the digital edition of the New Straits Times until June 30, go to the Apple iTunes Store or App Store on the Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod and key in "NST Digital" in the search window in the store front.

Click on the free app button under the NST Digital icon to launch the digital edition.

Finally, follow the three registration steps and log in with your username and password to enjoy the digital version of the New Straits Times.

RM49m spent on F1 design labs

KOTA KINABALU: Steps should be taken to improve the command of English among school children in Sabah besides mastering Bahasa Melayu, said State Resource Development and Information Technology Assistant Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad.

Expressing her dismay that only a small number of pupils in the state are proficient in English, she said mastering English was important in the era of globalisation and information communication technology. 

 

"However, English lesson in the classroom is not sufficient to master the language. 

 

"School children need to practice it in daily life. Do not be shy to speak English as you can learn from experience. Language proficiency will improve when one speaks English whenever he could." 

 

Jainab, who is also Karambunai assemblywoman, was speaking when launching a free English programme conduced by Royal Group for three selected schools in Sepanggar here today. 

 

She also expressed her regret that most pupils read English books and reading material only during an English class, but not after school. 

 

"Most students hardly speak English, they do not watch English programmes unless there are subtitles and read only Malay newspapers and magazines," she added. -- BERNAMA  

IGP: Police must change work culture

KUALA LUMPUR: The police must change the work culture of its personnel in line with current technology development through collaboration between 'Human, Technology and Science'.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said in line with the technology information approach adopted by criminals nowadays, the Royal

Malaysia Police (PDRM) must also undertake transformation and master current technology. 

"The legal transformation that is being carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has also become a motivation to the

PDRM, moving towards enhancing the quality of investigation based on 'scientific-aided investigation'.  

"Facilities such as the DNA Data Bank, Reagents and Consumables, Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) , Biometric Integrated Fingerprint

Indentification System (BIOFIS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIRS) are among the 'Scientific tools' that continue to be improved in efforts to

reduce crime," he said.

He said this in his speech at the official opening of Bukit Aman Tower 1 by the Prime Minister, here today.

Ismail said relations with members of the public were being enhanced and practised through the integrated conventional and communications approach.

"Police are adopting the C4 approach, that is, communication, command, control, and computer integration, a system that enables the PDRM to monitor and

subsequently react to situations swiftly," he said. 

He said the communication, collaboration and creativity (3C) culture introduced by the Prime Minister was most efficient for adoption by the police

in improving the credibility of the force.

He said that in the aspect of communications, the PDRM had improved internal and external communications under the ICT (information communication technology) and internet application such as the Facebook, Twitter, You tube, E-mail and so on.  

"The outcome of all the things carried out by the PDRM has been most satisfying and what the police wished to deliver has been achieved," he said.

Ismail said the Blue Ocean Strategy which the Prime Minister advocated for the public sector had been fruitful.

"The collaborations with the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Malaysian Civil Defence Department (JPAM), RELA and the local authorities had also improved the efficiency of the public sector besides saving millions of ringgit through such cooperation," he said.

The IGP also expressed appreciation for the contributions by the government which had built the necessary infrastructure for the PDRM such as new police

stations and police quarters.

The Prime Minister officially opened the Bukit Aman Tower 1, costing RM320 million, today.

Menara 1 is now Bukit Aman police headquarters' new administrative centre, replacing the old building near the tower.  

Its construction began on March 3, 2005 at the original parking lot in Bukit Aman on 1.4 hectares of land. -- BERNAMA 

MAF MRA KHY AO

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