PETALING JAYA: GoCare Crowdfunding in tandem with the Jaringan Prihatin programme implemented by the Finance Ministry and YTL Foundation’s Learn From Home Initiative will be assisting students from the B40 group to apply for free smartphones and data.

       Its adviser Datuk Natalie Lim Chong Ly said that although the Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated an online model of education, it also drove up the financial burden for many families.

       “The enforcement of the movement control order has thrown a wrench at conventional education methods with all teaching and learning activities to be done online.

       “Cloud and home-based learning have since become part of the new norm for most parts of the world,” she said in a statement Tuesday (Sept 14).

       She added that following a year of online classes, students living in poverty or those from rural areas were unable to keep up with their studies as many could not afford smartphones or data.

       “As Covid-19 has sped up the necessity of an online learning model, this also increases the financial burden on many families.

       “We are targeting to reach and help about 10,000 students from the B40 group in fully utilising these plans.

       “In light of the current digitalisation of education, we also hope existing plans can be expanded to include more underprivileged families and ensure no one is left behind,” she added.

       GoCare also urges members of the public to spread the word in hopes of allowing more B40 groups to benefit from these plans.

       For more details or to register, contact the GoCare hotline at 016-539 9178 or visit GoCare