Press Release - ITE-Lenovo Outreach Tide Students Through HBL and Beyond

When Home-based Learning (HBL) was implemented during the Circuit Breaker on 8 April, it posed a huge challenge to many students. While many struggled to keep up with a different style of learning, some, like Muhammad Fitri Ismail, Chua Shu Fen and Hursha’ien Addin, found it difficult to even join in the lessons as they could not afford computers. They had to resort to using their mobile phones just to participate in lessons.  

Fitri, a first-year Higher Nitec in Maritime Business student at ITE College Central, had to adapt to HBL just two days after school had begun. He said, “I was very anxious initially because there was no way my family could afford a laptop. My dad lost his job and my mum is undergoing cancer treatment. It was difficult coping with assignments and HBL using just our mobile phones.”   

Bridging the Gap 

It was an issue that ITE sought to quickly address and Lenovo Singapore responded by loaning 50 sets of laptops within days, so these students could continue their HBL with ease. The urgent need to bridge this technology gap amongst students was what led ITE and Lenovo Singapore to launch a new initiative, the ‘I Learn U Learn’ programme (ITE and Lenovo United Learning Programme) on 16 October 2020.   

To kick start this programme, Lenovo Singapore donated 50 laptops so that needy students could continue HBL without disruption and use it for schoolwork. Lenovo Singapore’s Country General Manager, Ronnie Lee, shared, “Technology should be an enabler that empowers any student to learn to their best ability. We hope those students will always be thirsty in learning and with that, shape a better tomorrow for generations to come.” Volunteers from Lenovo Singapore will also teach these students ‘HBL skills’, which include simple laptop troubleshooting and learning to use Microsoft Teams or Zoom for teleconferencing.  

Paying it Forward 

Under this pilot scheme, ITE students who receive these laptops will pay it forward by rendering 12 hours of community service. They will teach less privileged children under Central Singapore Community Development Council’s Nurture programme the same ‘HBL’ skills that they have learnt to support them in their own Home-based Learning. 

Another beneficiary, first-year Nitec in Fitness Training student, Hursha’ien Addin, had to pick up such skills from his classmate when he first received the laptop. His experience has spurred him to impart these skills to others. “My experience taught me the importance of learning and getting used to software required for HBL. I want to help others pick up these skills too so that they can be better prepared in the future,” he said.