International Journal of Human and Health Sciences. Supplementary Issue: 2021 
 

S4 
 

PLENARY LECTURE 

 

Educating Children and the New Norm 

 

Zabidi Azhar Mohd Hussin 

Professor of Paediatrics 

Pro Vice-Chancellor of Academic, International Medical University 
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v5i0.295 

 

The lockdown from March to November 2020 in its various forms have seriously impacted 

education of children, both nationally and internationally. In Malaysia; more than 1 million 

students were affected and 100,000 teachers and 20,438 members of school support staff were 

forced to stay at home. 

UNICEF noted that 24 million children around the world will drop out and students from 

vulnerable communities will be particularly and failed to return to class. This has forced almost 

all education providers to switch the education deliveries online. While some of the more 

established educational institutions which are more prepared than others, sailed plainly through 

this switch, a sizable majority found this switch a devastating blow to the delivery of education 

especially to children. 

The Parent Group for Education, Malaysia reported that 66% Malaysian children do not have 

good internet connectivity at home and the Ministry of Education also reported that 37% do not 

own devices for online learning. The outcome of these is almost predictable. 20% children were 

discovered to have lost interest in schoolwork and become demotivated while 7% have indeed 

dropped out from school.  Although most children are no stranger to handphones and other 

devices, the use of these for education is daunting. For the first 10 weeks of the MCO, online 

teaching is noted to be adhoc, random, unstructured and even non-existent. Timetable was 

created in May but not strictly adhered to by teachers who are not familiar with technology. The 

Ministry of Education set up a free portal such as www.eduwebtv.moe.edu.my and the Digital 

Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELIMA) as immediate mitigation. The future and 

the new norm for education is predictable and we have no choice. Online education delivery 

has to be strengthened by firm efforts to boost connectivity. School digital packages should 

consist of laptops or tablets, with video cams, telecommunication towers, especially in the rural 

areas must be built urgently. Mini and micro credentialing of children and teachers must be held 

to train them on the basics of online teaching, while more immersive applications are being 

prepared. We have little choice. 

 

Keywords: children, education, new norm, Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia 

(DELIMA) 

 

 

  

http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v5i0.