For a lifetime fee of only RM1, students in both Nilai and Seremban can surf the Internet at five centres in both municipalities.

And next year, three more such centres will be opened in both districts, said Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon.

“I do not have the words to describe my gratitude to both municipalities for complementing the ministry’s efforts to provide Internet access to students,” he said after opening the Mantin centre here which is equipped with 21 computers.

Mantin is the latest to have a free centre after Rantau and Labu in the Nilai district.

A fourth centre will be opened in Lenggeng in the next few months.

Seremban already has such centres in Paroi and Lobak.

Two more centres will open in Ampangan and Sikamat.

All centres, which have more than 20 computers each with Internet access, are open from 8am to 5pm from Mondays to Saturdays.

“Both the Seremban and Nilai councils have clearly demon­strated that they have a greater role to play in helping to create and develop a well-informed society.

“It is my hope that the private sector will take the cue from these local authorities and help set up such centres as part of their corporate social responsi­bility,” he said.

Chong added that there was a pressing need to have more such centres as the learning and teaching process was no longer restricted to “text books” like previously.

Nilai Municipal Council president Datuk Abd Halim Abd Latif said the response at the centres has been overwhelming.

He added that some schools have also requested to book these centres for their students.

“Schools are also welcome to book these centres as some may have insufficient number of computers or their own Internet connection may not be as strong,” he said, adding that although the priority to use these computers was for students, the general public was also allowed to patronise these centres.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by SARBAN SINGH

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]