In a statement, they said that with the reimplementation of the movement control order requiring many students to once again learn from home, the government must find a way to cover the main subjects for all age groups through TV, as relying on online learning alone would be insufficient.

Wan Ya Shin, research manager of IDEAS’ Social Policy Unit, said that earlier movement restrictions had shown online learning can be challenging for students, as many lack the devices, internet connections or parental supervision needed to learn effectively.

“The continuation of online learning that does not address these issues will result in a ‘lost generation’ and increase education inequality.

“The expansion of classroom teaching via TV should be comprehensive to cover all main subjects for all levels from primary to secondary to be aired on TV throughout the day to ensure that children are not left behind,” she said.

According to the ICT Use and Access Survey 2018, 98.6% of households in Malaysia have access to a TV, compared with 87% with internet access. However, the survey did not account for the quality of connection.

IDEAS CEO Tricia Yeoh said that after nearly a year of battling the pandemic, it’s time for the government to identify innovative solutions to ensure children can continue learning effectively.

“The Covid-19 situation is nowhere near easing, so implementing TV-based learning is certainly a low-hanging fruit that can be immediately put into place.

“I look forward to seeing how the government can adapt existing facilities creatively to achieve continued education,” she said.

IDEAS’ call echoed what was said by education minister Radzi Jidin yesterday, who mentioned at a press conference that educational programmes were an area his ministry was looking to strengthen to ensure children would “not be left behind in their studies”.

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