Kota Kinabalu: Educators and students from several State Islamic Secondary Schools (SMAN) and the Sabah State Al-Quran Tahfiz Institute (ITQAS) are benefiting from the use of Smartboard AI devices to support digital teaching and learning, distributed by the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (Jheains).
Jheains has acquired 35 Smartboard AI units to enhance both religious and STEM (Science, Technology, English and Mathematics) education in Sabah, in line with the State Government’s aspiration to produce a generation that is knowledgeable, faithful and technologically literate.
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Of the total, 30 units were distributed to six SMAN schools across Sabah, with each school receiving five units. Four units were allocated to ITQAS, while one unit was assigned to the Jheains Education Division. A Flip Touch device was also presented to support the department’s management and information delivery functions.
The initiative was formalised through a strategic collaboration between Yayasan Bumiputra Sabah (YBS) and Arvia Solutions Sdn Bhd, a Bumiputra-owned technology firm that supplied the Smartboard AI devices to Jheains.
The handover ceremony was officiated and witnessed by Deputy State Secretary (Special Duties) Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Mohd Kassim at ITQAS recently.
During the same event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Arvia and YBS Unifinder Sdn Bhd, as well as YBS Solutions Group Berhad, to expand strategic cooperation with the Sabah Government and government-linked companies (GLCs) in the future.
YBS, which is tasked with empowering Bumiputera human capital in Sabah, played a key role in realising the initiative. The collaboration goes beyond the provision of equipment and represents a long-term investment in the State’s future generation.
Hanafiah said educators must embrace the growing wave of digitalisation in education, in line with the Education Minister’s call for teachers to adopt digital approaches in teaching and learning.
He noted that Smartboard AI, equipped with built-in artificial intelligence, interactive smartboard features and a user-friendly interface, is positioned as a practical solution to support this shift.
“It enables teachers to adopt digital teaching methods more easily without added burden,” he said.
Beyond supporting Arabic language and Islamic studies, Hanafiah added that the technology also enhances teaching and learning across disciplines, including STEM subjects such as science and design and technology (RBT).
“Students can interact with Arabic text on 4K screens and collaboratively build 3D models in class,” he said.
YBS Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Jasmih Slamat said the collaboration reflects the foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening Bumiputera human capital development in Sabah.
He described the initiative as a long-term investment in the state’s future generation, beyond the mere provision of technological equipment.
Meanwhile, Arvia Solutions Chief Executive Officer Nurul Ain Mohamad Khdri said the partnership marks another step in the company’s efforts to expand its footprint in Sabah while advancing the national agenda of integrating locally developed technology into the education system.
She noted that the company, which has received recognition such as the SME 100, BrandLaureate Award, Women Entrepreneur Award and digital status from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), is confident that the collaboration with YBS and Jheains will open up further opportunities not only in Sabah but nationwide.
