At MOE’s Committee of Supply Debate in March 2020, MOE launched the National Digital Literacy Programme (NDLP) for our schools and Institutes of Higher Learning to help students strengthen their digital literacy. One of the components of the NDLP is the introduction of the Personalised Digital Learning Programme (PDLP) for all secondary school students, whereby every secondary school student will own a school-prescribed Personal Learning Device (PLD) by end-2021.

All students will be using the Apple iPad as their personal learning device. Every iPad will come bundled with the Apple pencil and keyboard to maximise the affordances of the iPad as a learning tool.

Not only is the iPad a portable device that offers students convenient learning on-the-move, it also allows for a seamless learning experience alongside existing learning technologies such as the Student Learning Space (SLS). In addition to apps within Apple’s eco-system, students will also gain access a wide range of programmes from other developers (eg. Google Suite and Microsoft Office etc), making it the device of choice in developing students’ application and creative skills.

Each bundle consists of:

1) Apple iPad 10.2" 64GB Wifi

2) Logitech Ruggedized Keyboard Case

3) Apple Pencil (1st generation)

The school chose the device because of :

• Portability

• Durability

• Teaching & Learning affordances (touch screen, inking function, multimedia editing, video recording, etc)

• Battery Life

To ensure affordability of this device, there was a one-time Edusave top-up of $200 in your child’s Edusave account in April 2020. Subsidies are available for students who require financial assistance to purchase a PLD.

Students under the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme for the year will automatically be subsidized for the PLD.

Students who are currently not under the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme may approach the school’s General Office to apply for additional subsidy if they meet the following criteria:

• Gross Household Income (GHI) is $4,000 or less, or Per Capita Income (PCI) is $1,000 or less. “PCI” refers to the Gross Household Income divided by the total number of family members in the household.

Permanent residents (PR) and international students (IS) who require financial assistance should approach the General Office for more information on financial assistance.

As part of the NDLP, schools will progressively roll out IT applications that will be vital to students’ learning experience and educational journey. In the following months, the school will roll out some or all of the following applications:

(a) Student iCON: Every secondary school student will be given an email address. This is a service provided by Google as part of Google Suite.

(b) Microsoft Pro Plus: Every secondary school student will be able to use Microsoft Office tools that include Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

(c) Zoom: Every secondary school student will be given a Zoom free account with 40 mins time limit using the Student iCON for the students’ video conferencing needs.

Data Protection

1. How will my child’s/ward’s data be used in the PLD and IT Applications?

DMA: The Device Management Application (DMA) which will be installed in your child's/ward’s PLD collects data on usage by the student, such as the amount of time spent on each application. The DMA data will only be used for MOE’s cyber-wellness measures and technical troubleshooting. MOE will not disclose the data to any person otherwise than permitted under the law.

IT Applications: For the IT Applications (student iCON, Microsoft ProPlus and Zoom), the school will use your child’s/ward’s personal data such as his/her name, birth certificate number and class to set up user accounts. This data will also be used for the purposes of authenticating and verifying user identity, troubleshooting and facilitating system improvements. In addition, the commercial providers of these platforms (e.g. Google, Microsoft) will collect and deal with user data generated by your child’s/ward’s use of these applications. The collection use and disclosure of such data are governed by the commercial provider’s terms of use, which can be found here:

• Student iCON: https://workspace.google.com/terms/education_terms_japan.html

• Microsoft Pro Plus: https://portal.office.com/commerce/mosa.aspx

• Zoom: https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/schools-privacy-statement.html

2. Where will the data collected by DMA and IT Applications for NDLP be stored?

All user data which is collected by MOE will be stored in secure servers managed by the respective vendors of our systems. The Government has put in place strong personal data protection laws and policies to safeguard sensitive data collected by public agencies such as MOE. Please refer to this website for more information on these laws and policies:

https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/why-Smart-Nation/secure-smart-nation/personal-data-protection

Procurement

1. Can my child not purchase the device? Can my child bring his/her own device?

Every student is required to have a device for teaching and learning purposes and is encouraged to purchase one through the school via MOE’s bulk tender. Students are encouraged to use the device model prescribed by the school, as the uniformity of systems and software would ensure a smooth learning experience for everyone. The device purchased through the school will come with the necessary warranty and insurance as well.

Students who do not wish to purchase a device because they already have their own devices will have to check with the school to ascertain whether the specifications of their existing devices meet the schools’ requirements. These existing devices must also be installed with a Device Management Application (DMA) software to manage the student’s access and usage.

2. What happens to the device after my child graduates?

The school will uninstall the DMA from the devices upon students’ graduation, and students will have full control and personal ownership over their devices afterwards. If the student’s device needs to be installed with DMA in JC/MI, it can be reinstated.

3. Can parents approach the tenderer to make separate purchases?

No. The purchase of PLDs, and peripheral accessories, e.g., headphones and screens, riding on the MOE Device Bulk Tender has to be made through the schools. The schools will make their professional decision on the suitable specifications of the device model and accessories that best meets their teaching and learning requirements.

4. My child does not have sufficient balance in his Edusave account. Do I need to make payment now?

No. At this stage, we are collating the orders first. You will be informed when payment is required.