ICT education as a catalyst to bridge digital divide: The roles of UiTM Sarawak in rural areas
List of Authors
  • Sharin Sulaiman , Suhaida Halamy

Keyword
  • UiTM Sarawak, ICT, digital divide, education

Abstract
  • The digital divide is a term where it refers to a gap among those who have better opportunities for the Internet of Things (IoT) and those who insufficiently do not have it at all has become a global concern, affecting a particularly rural community in Sarawak. Thus, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education would be a catalyst to bridge the digital divide. UiTM Sarawak has a significant role as one of the centers of excellence recognized by Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) to support the Sarawak state for the development of ICT education in rural areas. Deliver ICT education in an integrated manner to rural community become issue and challenge to UiTM Sarawak. The main highlighted issues of this paper are insufficient ICT infrastructure and a deficiency of knowledge of the need of having efficient ICT education of the rural community in Sarawak. This issue will handle as the crucial part in educating and exploring continuous opportunities in bridging the digital divide, appreciations to the initiative done by UiTM Sarawak. The goal is to see if UiTM Sarawak can strategically position itself to help the Sarawak state government achieve its goal of being a digital economy-based state in Malaysia by 2030.

Reference
  • 1. Aspirasi Digital Online. (2007). Digital Gap. Magazine by Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (4th Ed.). http://www.aspirasidigital.net.my/buletin/4%281%29.pdf.

    2. Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2020). Information and Communication Technology Usage and Access Data. https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/

    3. Disney E. Lai. (2010). Latihan ICT dalam sektor awam. http://www.compserv.sabah.gov.my/blp/Files/LatihanICTdalamSektorAwam.pdf

    4. Dr. Jeffri Idris et.al (2011). Digital Inequalities between the rural and urban students in Malaysia. http://ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol._2_No._12;_July_2011/22.pdf.

    5. Harris, R. (2001). Telecentres in Rural Asia: Towards a Success Model. Paper presented at Conference Proceedings of International conference on Information Technology, Communications and Development (ITCD 2001). Kathmandu: Nepal.

    6. Kari, H. K. (2007). Availability and accessibility of ICT in the rural communities of Nigeria. The Electronic Library, 25(3), 363-372.

    7. Lim H.P. (2016, Jan 16) Adenan to MCMC: Wire the rural areas properly. The Borneo Post. https://www.theborneopost.com/2016/01/16/adenan-to-mcmc-wire-the-rural-areas properly/

    8. Luqman Arif Abdul Karim. (2020). PKP: e-Pembelajaran tidak segerak sesuai di luar bandar, pedalaman. Berita Harian Online. https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/

    9. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). (2018). Communication and Multimedia: Laporan Tahunan MCMC 2018 https://www.mcmc.gov.my/skmmgovmy/media/General/pdf/Laporan-Tahunan-2018MCMC.pdf

    10. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). (2020). 1Q-2020-C-M-Facts-and-Figures. https://www.mcmc.gov.my/skmmgovmy/media/General/pdf/1Q-2020-C-M-Facts-and-Figures.PDF

    11. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. (MCMC). JENDELA (2020). https://www.mcmc.gov.my/ms/jendela

    12. Maxis Dan Sacofa Komited Untuk Membawa Jalur Lebar Berkelajuan Tinggi Kepada Lebih Ramai Rakyat Sarawak. (2018). https://www.sacofa.com.my/ssb/

    13. Ministry of Education (2015). Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025, http://www.moe.gov.my.

    14. Mohamad Soffee Razak (2010). Inisiatif merapatkan jurang digital. http://mohamadsofee.blogspot.my/2010/01/inisiatif merapatkan-jurang-digital.html

    15. Norizanm, Razak (2009). Empowering the Rural Communities Via the Telecentres. European Journal of Social Sciences, 9(3), 425-432.

    16. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) (2001). Understanding the Digital Divide. https://www.oecd.org/sti/1888451.pdf

    17. Povera, Adib. (2017) Abang Johari to unveil digitisation plan for Sarawak's economy next month. New Straits Times. http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/216449/abang-johari-unveildigitisation-plan sarawaks economy next month.

    18. Salman, A. and Hasim, M.S. (2011). Internet Usage in a Malaysian Sub-Urban Community: A Study of Diffusion of ICT Innovation. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal, 16(2). http://www.innovation.cc/case-studies/salman%20hasim_internet_usage_suburban_community5rvsd1final_v16i2a8.pdf

    19. Yatim, R. (2010). Broadband penetration has exceeded 55pc. The Malaysian Insider.http://www.theMalaysianinsider.com/Malaysia/article/rais-broadband-penetration-has-exceeded-55pc