Only 18.2% of pupils bring free eBooks to school

A survey involving children involved in Terengganu's one-pupil-one-computer scheme shows that only 18.2 percent of 908 pupils polled took their laptop computers to the classroom.

The scheme, which cost the Terengganu government RM24.98 million, was aimed at providing for free a laptop computer to every Year 5 primary school pupil - under the programme dubbed the eBook - as study aid and to replace text books.

However, the survey by the Auditor-General's Department found that most pupils did not bring their eBooks to school because of a host of problems.

Chief among them is the short lifespan of the battery. Charging would last only an hour, and classrooms do not have sufficient electrical points for recharging.

There were also complaints about the complexities of doing homework and taking down notes on a computer, coupled with the fear of theft of the laptops in school.

In addition, the 2009 Auditor-General's report notes that teachers were still using textbooks because they were not equipped with similar computers.

eBooks prone to virus attacks, damage

Nevertheless, the report records another survey that showed 92.5 percent of the parents polled believe the free eBook programme helps to eradicate computer illiteracy.

The survey also found that 84.5 percent of teachers want the eBook programme to continue, but noted that many of them were not trained to use the computers, nor were they equipped with the laptops.

It was also established that many pupils found that the eBooks could easily get spoilt, with 73.6 percent of this resulting from computer viruses.

The audit team noted that out of the 23,431 eBook units distributed since June last year, 3,389 units (14.4 percent) had been returned to the supplier for repairs.

Of the laptops sent for repairs, 2,699 units (79.6 percent) were eligible for warranty while the remaining 690 units were sent in as a result of user incurred damage. Repairs due to user negligence can cost between RM5 and RM480.

Sued for copyright infringement

Meanwhile, the supplier of the eBook, Top IT Industries Sdn Bhd, was criticised for several flaws at its manufacturing plant in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu.

Among these are leaky roofs, cracked walls and poor air-conditioning, coupled with failure to obtained the relevant approvals from the fire department and the Kuala Terengganu Municipal Council.

"In our opinion, a company owned by the government should set a good example by adhering to the laws," the report says.

The audit report also notes that another company, Syarikat Alpha Soft Synergy, which supplies the Al-Quran Encyclopedia software installed in the eBook, is being sued for copyright infringement by a compnay called Al-Tasneem Sdn Bhd.

Top IT Industries has told the audit team that greater prudence would be exercised in the future in the selection of its software suppliers.

In summary, the audit team said, the utilisation of eBooks by the target group was very low and this had adverse effects on the programme's long-term goals.

The audit was performed in the first half of 2010.