25,000 Students in Terengganu Equipped with INTEL-Powered Classmate PCs

Kuala Terengganu, May 26, 2009 – The Terengganu State Government, Top IT Industries Sdn Bhd and Intel Malaysia today launched the “Projek Buku Elektronik” which will deploy 25,000 Intel-powered Classmate PCs to year-five pupils attending Terengganu schools. The Projek Buku Elekronik is the brainchild of the Terengganu State Government and represents a first step towards harnessing the benefits of technology to make education more efficient by delivering the school curriculum in a digitized format as an alternative to heavy textbooks. 

The project is also part of the State government’s ongoing effort to enhance the quality of education through direct ownership of portable PC devices and IT-based learning, thus injecting renewed enthusiasm for learning in the classroom and at home. “Projek Buku Elektronik is a bold first step the State Government is taking, and it will be the catalyst for a new chapter in Malaysia’s education curriculum. We strongly believe ICT plays a very important role in supporting the development of human capital and we are optimistic that the use of Intel-powered Classmate PCs in the classroom will have a positive impact on the critical thinking, communication and digital literacy skills of students,” said YAB Datuk Ahmad Said, the Menteri Besar of Terengganu.

“The launch of Projek Buku Elektronik by the Terengganu state government is a strong proof point that we are a step closer towards realizing the National IT Agenda by cultivating 21st Century learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills amongst the younger generation. At Intel, we believe that a solid foundation in education can be a springboard to a better future,” said Ryaz Patel, Intel Malaysia’s Country Manager.

In addition to deploying Intel-powered Classmate PCs, Intel will also collaborate with the Terengganu State Government to improve education in the classroom through the use of other innovative technologies and education programs such as the Intel 1:1 E-Learning project.

In December 2008, the Terengganu State Government, Top IT Industries Sdn Bhd and Intel Malaysia had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deploy Intel-powered Classmate PCs to Year Five pupils in Terengganu schools. The first shipment of Classmate PCs arrived from Taiwan approximately three weeks ago and will now be distributed to the first batch of year-five pupils by the end of May. The deployment exercise will be undertaken by Top IT Industries Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Terengganu State Government.