S’pore Aims To Equip Every Secondary School Kid With A Personal Digital Device By 2028

How many of us have heard time and time again that children should limit their screen time?

Well, don’t be too quick to agree with it because this notion might change in the near future.

S’pore Aims To Equip Every Secondary School Kid With A Personal Digital Device By 2028

By 2028, all secondary school students will have their own digital device, such as an iPad.

This is part of a national digital literacy programme that is being launched by the Ministry of Education.

Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said during the debate on his ministry’s budget that schools will progressively launch this programme from June this year.

But why?

Not Everyone Needs To Learn Coding, Most Just Need To Learn How To Use Tech

Think about it, jobs and technology are now so intertwined. And if kids are not allowed to explore technology and get used to working with it, how can they adapt to the future?

It’s like asking your grandfather to start learning Microsoft Excel. While he can learn it, he’s probably going to take twice the amount of time to do his work.

Mr Ong pointed out that the popular opinion around the world is to “make coding compulsory”, but not every kid is going to be a coder when they grow up.

Instead, they will let kids get used to working with digital devices.

“We Will Be Careful”

As for whether this will backfire? It could, he says.

But if they are really careful about it and design a curriculum that will enhance teaching and learning, the rewards may be well worth the risk.

Orchid Park Secondary School Was The Guinea Pig

The decision wasn’t just made out of the blue. In fact, Orchid Park Secondary School has been piloting the use of personal learning devices with its Secondary 1 students beginning last year.

MOE loaned out a Chromebook to all 280 students in that particular cohort.

If you’re like me and only know what an iPad is, a quick search shows that a Chromebook is a ” computer that’s smart, secure and ready when you are”.

Not A Fan Of Chromebooks? No Problem

But if you’re not a fan of Chromebooks, don’t fret because schools will be able to choose a device from a given list. Students will then have to purchase it on their own.

There’ll be an Edusave top-up of $200 for all students this year for the purchase.

“We will make sure that the device is affordable. Given that it is primarily used for learning and education, we do not intend for it to be a high-end device.”

Plus, bulk buying these items tends to decrease the price even more, specifically “probably to a few hundred dollars.”

Students can purchase the device by using money from their Edusave accounts, which according to the minister, should be enough after the $200 Edusave top-up on top of last year’s $150 top-up.

In total, $75 million will be used to fund this scheme.

Not to worry, students who are in the lower-income band will get even more subsidies to make sure that they don’t have to take any money out of their own pockets.

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Devices Said To Boost Teaching & Learning At Orchid Park Secondary School

The implementation of the scheme is due to the success encountered at Orchid Park Secondary School in terms of teaching and learning.

This was because students were able to access the Singapore Student Learning Space, which is an online learning platform with educational tools and resources both in class and at home.

Teachers are able to issue work through the platform, as well as see students’ progress on their assignments in real-time.

Perhaps most importantly, if the students seem to be struggling with certain questions, teachers are able to clarify and quickly address it before it snowballs.

Orchid Park Secondary School principal Shawal Hussin said that the devices help “students understand some of the topics better through visual and audio aids. At any time, during recess, at home or on the bus, they can revise their work and are not restricted by the old ways of learning.”

Basically just study 24/7.

No Distractions Because Downloading Gaming Apps & Accessing Some Websites Blocked

Parents who are worried about whether digital devices will distract students need not fret because students are blocked from downloading certain gaming apps or accessing similar websites.

The devices can also be programmed to switch off after 12am to prevent extra hardworking students from pulling an all-nighter to study.

Mr Shawal explains that anything can be misused and that there’s no point bubble-wrapping the children.

“What we can do is teach them how to use (social media) properly and inculcate good values in them.”

Ministry Also Has Plans To Strengthen Digital Literacy Through  Computational Thinking & Coding

Equipping every student with a digital device is not the only method the government has come up with to strengthen digital literacy.

Other methods include exposing more primary school children to computational thinking and coding.

For instance, beginning 2020, all primary schools will offer Code for Fun programme, which is a 10-hour enrichment programme for upper primary pupils.

More secondary schools and junior colleges will also offer O- and A-level computing. In total, around 30 secondary schools and 10 junior colleges will offer the subject.

Past Studies Show That Screen Time Hinders Brain Development In Kids

While this initiative is great for secondary school students to improve the efficacy of learning in school, here’s a gentle reminder that the same can’t be said for very young kids.

For instance, according to CNN, a study showed that children aged 3-5 years who used screens for more than an hour a day without parental involvement, which is the recommended amount, had poorer development of their brain’s white matter.

Lest you’re unaware, white matter is the part of the brain that helps in the development of one’s speaking skills, cognitive skills, the ability to read and pick up languages. It’s imperative that this is properly developed at a young age.

Excessive screen time in kids can also lead them to be unable to process thoughts coherently and deter them from paying attention in the future.

Other risks also include poorer eating habits and problems with their behaviours. As if all the above isn’t enough, it also decreases parent-child interaction times.

However, there’s always an exception. A bit of screen time along with guidance from parents could help kids over the age of two learn to pick up words from video chats and interactive games.

Examples are “quality shows” like Dora or Sesame Street that teaches children new words and information that could help to improve a child’s cognitive skills and social development.

At the end of the day, parents just need to be aware of the right amount of time to let their children have screentime.