The National Union of the Teaching Profession has lauded the education ministry's intention to boost ICT facilities in schools, but has added a caveat.

Union secretary-general Loke Yim Pheng said implementation should be accompanied by technical maintenance services.

"Apart from ensuring schools are provided with Internet connection, there must be long-term maintenance of the equipment such as laptop and desktop computers," she said when contacted today.

She was asked to comment on a Star report on April 16 stating that the ministry has built 5,266 computer labs and 1,584 access centres in schools nationwide, and that 97 percent of schools have broadband access.

To prevent rural schools from being left out of the ICT loop, an additional RM72 million has been allocated for computer labs and Internet connection.

Loke also said it is essential for the government to obtain and study feedback from schools after the facilities are in use, to determine whether or not teachers and students find these effective.

The ministry has said the provision of these facilities will supplement teaching methods.

To this, Loke said teachers typically have a keen interest in new methods, although some may not be able to incorporate these due to time constraints.

"Setting up a laptop often takes up at least 15 minutes, and may cause problems to those teaching a single period of 40 minutes," she noted.

Pointing out that technical problems are a particular bugbear for those teaching in Sabah and Sarawak, she said they have a recurring problem in accessing the Internet.