Laptops for learning

As the CoVID-19 situation unfolds and schools moved to home-based learning, it has become clear that some families have it harder.

The family who may not have any laptop at home, and the child is at risk in missing out on online lessons and learning.

The family who has just that one laptop to share between multiple children.

Digital inequality is something that children from low-income families are confronted with much more during this time. The consequences are immediate as well as long-term. They struggle with attending online meetings with their teachers, or are unable to submit assignments and homework on time. To learn well in the long run is largely dependent on the ability to optimise digital technologies. CoVID-19 will be here for some time, and the reality is that home-based learning is something that students and families will have to get used to, even after they return to schools.

We believe that having access is the first step. This campaign, driven by the Communications and New Media department at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore is all about supporting children of low-income families. This initiative kicked off successfully in an earlier campaign with laptops provided to 16 families living in rental flats in Yishun. Another 46 families have been identified in collaboration with People's Association Youth Movement (PAYM), and we hope to meet these needs.

Campaign image by the FASS Club.