Summary：**Sabah Strengthens Cooperation With Communications Ministry, Focuses Education Digitalisation - Ber

**Sabah Strengthens Cooperation With Communications Ministry, Focuses Education Digitalisation - Bernama**
*Summary: Sabah Strengthens Cooperation With Communications Ministry, Focuses Education Digitalisation*

### Introduction
The Sabah state government announced on Monday a renewed partnership with the Federal Communications Ministry aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of education across the region. Officials said the collaboration will target infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and the deployment of e‑learning platforms in both urban and rural schools. The move comes as Malaysia pushes to narrow the digital divide highlighted by the pandemic‑era shift to remote learning.

### Key Developments
Under the agreement, the Communications Ministry will allocate RM 120 million over the next three years to expand broadband coverage in 150 underserved villages in Sabah’s interior. Simultaneously, the state’s Education Department will roll out a standardized learning management system (LMS) that integrates with existing national curricula. Pilot programmes in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan have already shown a 22 % increase in student engagement when digital tools complement traditional teaching methods.

A joint task force, comprising representatives from both ministries, local telecom providers, and university researchers, will monitor progress quarterly. The task force’s first deliverable—a connectivity map identifying bandwidth gaps—is slated for release by the end of Q1 2026.

### Industry Analysis
Education technology analysts note that Sabah’s geographic challenges—dense rainforests, scattered islands, and limited road access—have historically hampered broadband rollout. By leveraging the Communications Ministry’s expertise in spectrum allocation and public‑private partnerships, the state can overcome these barriers more efficiently than through isolated initiatives.

Moreover, the focus on teacher upskilling addresses a critical bottleneck: a 2023 survey revealed that only 38