JomStudi : A Learning Hub For the Underserved Communities

Date : 8-Mar-2019
Location: Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Key Take-Aways:

• Over 1,400 students nationwide were the first to gain access to and experience JomStudi, a new digital learning hub that aggregates school syllabus-based content to make digital learning more available to underserved communities where access to tuition centres and learning resources may be limited.
• Hosted and managed by Digi, JomStudi provides students with easy access to quality education content that follows the syllabus format set by the Ministry of Education. JomStudi is jointly conceptualised by Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (“Astro”), Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (“Digi”), and Media Prima Berhad (“Media Prima”) and is supported by the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
• The program was launched by YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Internet Centre in Kampung Kering.
• He was accompanied by Al-Ishsal Ishak, MCMC’s Chairman; Hj Ismail Bin Ahmad, State Assemblyman of Labu; Henry Tan, Astro’s Chief Executive Officer; Albern Murty, Digi’s Chief Executive Officer; Datuk Kamal Khalid, Media Prima’s Group Managing Director; and Sumitra Nair, MDEC’s Vice President of Talent & Digital Entrepreneurship.
• Features to boost self-learning -  JomStudi promotes self-learning and develops technological and digital skills. To motivate students, JomStudi incorporates gamification elements to make the learning experience fun. This includes reward badges for completing an assignment as well as a personalised dashboard on which they can track their own progress and development.

Astro, Digi and Media Prima launched JomStudi, supported by MDEC and MCMC

Spokeperson:

• YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Communications and Multimedia, lauded the collaboration, stating that closer public-private sector partnerships were critical to bridge the digital divide and change the way learning is experienced
• Azuan Shaari,Manager, Tendong Internet Centre, commented that students enjoyed the learning experience provided by JomStudi platform; the fun and interactive experiences helped them to understand the subjects better.

Offerings:

• Digi is offering its customers free access during the JomBelajar time zone from 2.00pm-8.00pm daily.
  • The learning resources use Astro Tutor TV’s interactive rich video based resources and Media Prima’s FullAMark, an online learning portal that enables students to access revision exercises based on the subjects of Year 5, UPSR, PT3 and SPM.
  • Additionally, students will have access to digital content from the #mydigitalmaker movement such as modules on coding, programming and other computational thinking competencies.
  • An Internet safety and resilience module called Digi World will also be made available on JomStudi to ensure the students are aware of the importance of staying safe online.
  • Other educational resources on technology, digital literacy as well as informal skills learning will also be made available on JomStudi through partnerships and other content providers in the near future.

Editor's comments:

1. This is a good initiative supported by the collaboration between public and private sectors to complement the educational system in Malaysia
2. It should be made affordable and highly accessible to the target communities - the underserved
3. Personally, I welcome the self-learning feature which incorporates gamification elements
4. Parents must also take initiative to encourage children to get on board the platform !!!

(L-R:) YB Tuan Teo Kok Seong, EXCO for Negeri Sembilan State; Henry Tan, CEO of Astro; Albern Murty, CEO of Digi; YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Communications and Multimedia; YBrs. Encik Al-Ishsal Ishak, Chairman of MCMC; Datuk Kamal Khalid, Group Managing Director of Media Prima Bhd; Puan Sumitra Nair, VP of Talent and Digital Entrepreneurship of MDEC; YB Tuan Haji Ismail Bin Ahmad, ADUN Labu