CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow hopes the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), which has joined hands with the state government in the Penang E-Learning Computer Programme, will do a follow-up with the recipients to ensure their success.
“Each company after making their contribution of computers to the deserving students, perhaps can follow closely their progress and keep encouraging them until they step into higher learning institutions.
“Once the students have completed their studies, then the companies can consider helping them to secure a job in their respective companies.
“In this manner, the programme will turn out to be more significant and valuable for the beneficiaries as it not only provides educational opportunities but employment opportunities as well.
“This will also reflect the noble contribution of the companies to the well-being of the young people in the state,’’ said Chow during an interaction session with the recipients and their teachers today.
The interactive session, called ‘Jom Sembang Dengan Ketua Menteri ’, was held to give a chance to the beneficiaries to share their thoughts on the programme.
Meanwhile, state executive councillor Chong Eng, who is in charge of the Penang E-Learning Computer Programme, said the taskforce is committed to helping out more needy students.
“Last year, we received some 1,000 applications under this programme but this year we have an overwhelming response of 4,777 applicants.
“For this year, we only managed to give out 1,552 computers which were donated by 27 companies, plus a few hundreds of refurbished computers.
“We will work harder to ensure that more deserving students get equipped with these e-learning devices to enable them to have a smooth online learning process.
“Education is the only tool that will enable them to break all barriers and come out of the poverty circle. We also hope that one day these students after succeeding in life, will in turn help other students to come up in life,” added Chong Eng.
MSIA chairman Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, who also joined the interactive session, advised the students to fully utilise the devices given to them.
“We hope that the recipients will use this opportunity to get hands-on with computers and become well-versed in using them.
“No one should be deprived of digital education and we are very much delighted to have contributed the computers to needy students.
“Each unit that has been contributed means a lot as it can help change an individual’s life for the better. We will keep trying to raise more devices for the deserving students,” Wong said.
Apart from that, the students and teachers who took part in the session thanked the state government, the taskforce as well as the MSIA for the contribution which has enabled many needy students to follow online classes.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix Law Suun Ting