By Ashwinder Kaur D/O Bhag Singh
2013-121858
Topic: Ministry of Rural and Regional Developement

Rural development has been the core focus of  Malaysian economic policies since independence in 1957 through the 1990s. The rural sector is pivotal to the country’s economic growth, social and political development

 MORRD has put in place adult literacy programmes, adult ICT and other educational programmes through INFRA , KEMAS, and RISDA training colleges . Its nationwide computer literacy training programme called rural vision movement launched in 1996 aimed to promote the villagers self-reliance in the process of planning implementing and evaluating community development programmes in their rural community with minimal assistance from the authorities.

Rural internet centre project and e-Community centres were initiated in 2000 by the MOEWC to address the digital divide through community-shared facilities with computer and internet access. Sponsorship of 2.8 million from Pos Malaysia, MOEWC built more than 40 such centres in post office around the country, targeting housewives, school leavers and senior citizen to help build awareness and encourage the community to leverage on ICT in their daily lives.

The main focus of informal lifelong learning activities in Malaysia has been confined to programmes that teach basic ICT and numeracy skills to marginalised and disadvantaged group in rural areas. These programmes are invariably dependent on support from government or donor agencies.

There are several issues and challenges which need to be addressed if Malaysia wishes to realise the full potential of lifelong learning to contribute towards its rapid economic development. These are:-

Absence of a fully-fledged lifelong learning policy

Even though lifelong learning policy has been recognised as a critical agenda for the nation since the late 1990s there has not been any specific policy addressing lifelong learning. Unlike school and higher education system lifelong learning has not been integrated into the national education agenda, to promote lifelong learning it is crucial that a specific policy be outlined, emphasising the national approach and commitment. Succinct and well formulated policy will provide the necessary guidelines for all lifelong players to align their activities and goals.

Inadequate mechanism and infrastructure

Current mechanism and infrastructure are not fully in place to provide equal access to all. This is evidenced by the slow growth of participation of rural folk. Despite various efforts by the government to address digital divide, it is still prevalent particularly in rural and remote areas.

 

One of the pillars of the NEM, the tenth Malaysia plan 2011-2015 places special emphasis on skill training to ensure that Malaysia develops the necessary human capital to meet industry’s requirements NAD drive productivity improvements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leveraging on ICT

This is timely in view of Malaysia’s current drive to expand its broadband penetration throughout the nation. This development will widen access to lifelong learning through a flexible, affordable and effective online learning mode. There is however the need to bridge the digital divide which will be a crucial agenda in the next decade, in line with the National Information Technology Agenda(NITA).

To address the challenges, National Higher Education System Plan proposed 4 strategies to achieve these objectives

(a)    Upgrade mechanism and infrastructure to facilitate LLL, developing diverse kinds of knowledge and skills in line.

(b)   Enhance public awareness and involvement so that individual can develop self potential in terms of productivity and competitiveness

(c)    Ensure continuity appreciation

(d)   Provide adequate financial support to inculcate LLL as a way of life.

REFERENCES

mygov.malaysia.gov.my/.../DevelopingYourBusiness/.../MinistryofRural...

citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.201.7497...

http:/www.pmo.gov.my/dokumenattached/RMK/RMK10 Mds.pdf

http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/countryreports/malaysia/rapport_1.html

http://www.mohe.gov.my/portal/images/utama/penerbitan/Enculturation%20of%20Lifelong%20LearningFINAL%20v1.pdf