dotlah! dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
Social Links
  • zedreviews.com
  • citi.io
  • aster.cloud
  • liwaiwai.com
  • guzz.co.uk
  • atinatin.com
0 Likes
0 Followers
0 Subscribers
dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
  • Technology

Bridging The Digital Divide

  • July 8, 2020
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

By ensuring the accessibility of technology, the NEU PC Plus Programme is helping needy students in Singapore adjust to home-based learning and the new realities of life during COVID-19

In Singapore, June typically marks the beginning of the month-long school holidays for students. This year, however, things are a little different.

With the lifting of the circuit breaker measures, local students will be gradually returning to school after a full month of home-based learning. Just as COVID-19 triggered the world’s largest work-from-home experiment, students worldwide have suddenly had to adjust to new learning methods.


Online education through home-based learning, in particular, is on the rise. Consequently, there’s been an uptick in demand for technology tools like laptops and even access to a stable Internet connection to facilitate home-based learning. Not all households in Singapore, however, are equipped with these tools.

To ensure that no student gets left behind, the NEU PC Plus Programme (NPP) administered by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) provides low-income households with the opportunity to obtain brand new computers at an affordable price.

However, it’s become increasingly clear that the NEU PC Plus Programme’s benefits extend beyond the virtual classroom and into the daily lives of the beneficiaries.

Making learning more accessible

IMPact_NeuPCPlus_CharissaCheong
APSN Centre for Adults student Charissa Cheong having fun creating PowerPoint presentations on her NPP-subsidised Acer laptop.

Since its launch in 1999, the NPP has remained true to its aim of making digitalisation more accessible to low income households, particularly those with underprivileged students or persons with disabilities (PWD).

Eligible beneficiaries not only get subsidised personal computers or laptops, but may also avail of the option to bundle with three years of free broadband subscription.

The programme has evolved through the years, with the latest enhancement reflecting the current COVID-19 situation. Recognising the urgent need for beneficiaries to have access to a working computer and Internet connection, NPP processing agency partners have streamlined the process to accelerate PC delivery and broadband installation.

Moreover, co-payment for students under the Ministry of Education’s Financial Assistance Scheme (MOE FAS) is no longer required, with the iNSPIRE Fund’s support. In light of the continuing safe distancing measures, existing requirements to perform community service prior to receiving the fully subsidised PC, will be waived for the time being.

The enhanced NPP also now offers more flexible options—such as a subsidised second PC for families with three or more school children, a broadband-only alternative for MOE FAS students and existing NPP beneficiaries without home internet as well as an option for mobile broadband at no cost.

Students go digital

Over 67,000 beneficiaries have been supported by NPP as of May 2020.

This includes students like 12 year-old Aliff Zikry Bin Dzuriami from Woodlands Primary School and 15 year-old Edward Tay from Maris Stella High School.

For both pupils, the subsidised laptops from NPP have been a game-changer during this period of home-based learning. “I’m happy to get this computer,” enthused Aliff. “It’s much easier to use compared to my mother’s phone.”

Edward, who has two other school-aged siblings, also shares Aliff’s sentiments on the laptop’s convenience. “Before I received this laptop, my siblings and I had to take turns using two devices: one computer and one laptop I borrowed from school.”

IMPact_NeuPCPlus_EdwardTay
Stella Maris High School Secondary 3 pupil Edward Tay doing his homework on his NPP-subsidised Acer laptop.

Still, adjusting to home-based learning is an ongoing process. “When I have questions, I have to type it in the chat box and wait for the teacher’s approval before I get on my mic,” shared Edward.

But there’s no question that the laptops have made both Aliff and Edward’s lives much smoother. “Communication and online work is much better now. Before, I had to rely on my groupmates to do the presenting and all the work,” added Edward.

The new device has also been a great enabler for 19-year old Mark s/o Mohan, who studies Cybersecurity at ITE College East. “The software inside the laptop—like Chrome and Microsoft Office—is up to date. Once you get the laptop, you’re good to go,” said Mark. Eighteen year-old Crystal Perez from Republic Polytechnic agrees, adding that the laptop is also very fast and does not lag.

Over the past two months, however, the students have found uses for their subsidised devices beyond home-based learning.

Mark, for instance, is a proud angler, and edits his fishing videos on his laptop before posting them online. Previously, he had to rely on his phone to edit videos, similar to Aliff. Meanwhile, 23 year-old Charissa Cheong, who is enrolled at the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) Centre for Adults, uses her laptop to create PowerPoint presentations of her family’s travels.

IMPact_NeuPCPlus_MarkMohan
ITE College East student and fishing enthusiast Mark s/o Mohan with his NPP-subsidised Acer laptop.

“The laptop is ultimately a multi-purpose device,” emphasised Mark. As the technology evolves, the more exciting possibilities there surely will be for the NPP beneficiaries.

Virtual worlds, real impact

Though in-person events like after-school activities and celebrations have been put on hold, many of them have since found a second life online. As Edward shares, he has used his laptop to participate in the making of a Thank You video for healthcare workers over Google Meet.  “The experience was pretty great,” he recalled.

Meanwhile, Mark celebrated his cousin’s 21st birthday through his laptop using Skype, despite the two living just two blocks away from one another. “You cannot compare it to real life. But we understand what Singapore is going through,” he reflected. “Instead of complaining, we can just do our part, stay at home and it will make the world better.”

At the end of the day, the NPP isn’t just about improving access to technology for home-based learning.

It’s also about enabling meaningful connections while many of us are physically apart—whether these interactions are among students and teachers, friends and family—all through digitalisation.

 


Find out more about the NEU PC Plus Programme (NPP) here.

If you’d like to contribute towards supporting the digital needs of low-income households, you can visit the website of the National Council of Social Service’s fundraising and engagement arm, Community Chest. Alternatively, you may also contact them at [email protected] or at hotline number 1800 210 2600.

 

By Kami Navarro

Source: IMDA

Total
0
Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Related Topics
  • COVID-19
  • E-learning
  • IMDA
  • Infocomm Media Development Authority
  • iNSPIRE
  • NEU PC Plus Programme
dotlah.com

Previous Article
  • People
  • Technology

How Coronavirus Is Shaping The Future Of The Workplace

  • July 7, 2020
View Post
Next Article
  • Cities

10 Features Of Payroll Management Software That You Should Not Ignore

  • July 8, 2020
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Gears
  • Technology

Apple Vision Pro upgraded with the powerful M5 chip and comfortable Dual Knit Band

  • Dean Marc
  • October 15, 2025
View Post
  • Gears
  • Technology

Meet Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Series: Packing Everything You Expect From a Premium Tablet

  • Dean Marc
  • September 4, 2025
View Post
  • Technology

Malaysia’s ‘ASEAN Shenzhen’ needs some significant legal reform to take off — here’s how

  • dotlah.com
  • August 25, 2025
View Post
  • Gears
  • Technology

Samsung Electronics Debuts Odyssey G7 Monitors, Showcasing Top Games on Its Displays at Gamescom 2025

  • Dean Marc
  • August 20, 2025
View Post
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Technology

Thoughts on America’s AI Action Plan

  • Dean Marc
  • July 24, 2025
View Post
  • Technology

ESWIN Computing launches the EBC77 Series Single Board Computer with Ubuntu

  • dotlah.com
  • July 17, 2025
View Post
  • Gears
  • Technology

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones

  • Dean Marc
  • July 9, 2025
View Post
  • Cities
  • Technology

Meralco PowerGen’s PacificLight starts up 100 MW fast-response plant in Singapore

  • dotlah.com
  • June 20, 2025


Trending
  • 1
    • Cities
    The Top 20 Busiest Ports On The Planet
    • June 7, 2019
  • 2
    • Cities
    • Lah!
    • Society
    The World’s Most Powerful Passports Of 2020
    • June 23, 2020
  • social-media-heart-karsten-winegeart-60GsdOMRFGc-unsplash 3
    • People
    • Technology
    How Social Media Can Help Boost Your Optimism
    • April 9, 2022
  • dubai skyline night 4
    • Cities
    • Technology
    What It Would Mean To Live In A Smart City
    • October 6, 2020
  • 5
    • Lah!
    • Technology
    Australia And Singapore’s Blockchain Trial Shows Promising Results For Reducing Transaction Costs
    • August 21, 2021
  • 6
    • Lah!
    Explainer: Testing The Efficacy Of Protective Face Masks
    • August 28, 2020
  • 7
    • Lah!
    Novel COVID-19 Swabs To Address Shortage
    • July 14, 2020
  • 8
    • Lah!
    DBS Makes Steady Headway In Digitalising Trade; Completes First Fully Digital Trade Financing Settlement On Singapore’s Networked Trade Platform With Audi Singapore and Premium Automobiles
    • February 6, 2020
  • 9
    • Technology
    MAS Partners With Financial Industry to Create Framework for Responsible Use of AI
    • November 13, 2019
  • 10
    • Technology
    Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac
    • June 10, 2024
  • 11
    • Lah!
    Part Of Jurong Lake District To Be Developed Into A Key Tourist Attraction By 2026
    • May 30, 2019
  • 12
    • Cities
    • Technology
    How The Internet Of Things Is Building Smarter Cities
    • June 15, 2020
Trending
  • Bluetooth speakers 1
    Best Bluetooth Speakers Under $200 (2025 Edition)
    • October 16, 2025
  • 2
    Apple Vision Pro upgraded with the powerful M5 chip and comfortable Dual Knit Band
    • October 15, 2025
  • 3
    Apple unveils new 14‑inch MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chip, delivering the next big leap in AI for the Mac
    • October 15, 2025
  • 4
    Apple introduces the powerful new iPad Pro with the M5 chip
    • October 15, 2025
  • 5
    Singapore’s national identity excludes those who don’t look like a ‘regular family’
    • October 9, 2025
  • Smart Watch 6
    Best Smartwatches, Your Gateway to Health Monitoring and Everyday Use
    • October 5, 2025
  • Cooking pots and pans 7
    Best Pots and Pans 2025: All-Season, All-Purpose Picks for Every Kitchen
    • September 23, 2025
  • 8
    Politicians love comparing NZ’s economy to Singapore or Ireland – but it’s simplistic and misleading
    • September 21, 2025
  • Kitchen Knives - Best All-Around Picks in 2025 9
    Kitchen Knives : The Surgeons of Cooking – Best All-Around Picks in 2025
    • September 15, 2025
  • 10
    Apple unveils iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the most powerful and advanced Pro models ever
    • September 9, 2025
Social Links
dotlah! dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
Connecting Dots Across Asia's Tech and Urban Landscape

Input your search keywords and press Enter.