Parents can check school vacancies, overcrowding through SekolahKu portal

Parents in Malaysia can now access crucial information about schools, such as vacancies and overcrowding, through a new centralised portal called SekolahKu. This digital platform, developed by GovTech Malaysia in partnership with the Education Ministry, provides users with the ability to search for schools by location and view comprehensive profiles.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo highlighted that the portal aims to streamline the process for parents, who previously had to visit individual school websites or contact education departments to obtain required information.

Prior to the launch of SekolahKu, parents faced the challenge of referring to multiple portals to acquire data regarding schools, a task made more complex due to the sheer number of institutions nationwide. Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek further informed that the portal addresses common parental concerns, including the availability of Dual Language Programs, and allows pupils to search for their preferred schools and verify the availability of places.

The SekolahKu portal also provides additional resources such as details about teachers, former pupils, and learning materials. It covers schools across Malaysia, including rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak. Fadhlina stressed that this portal makes such information more accessible to parents by eliminating the need to approach state education departments. She called on district and state education offices to fully utilize the platform to ensure parents can benefit from the accessible information.

Gobind emphasized that the centralised system would also lead to cost savings by eliminating redundancies and ensuring more efficient use of government resources. He noted that without a unified approach, there could be overlapping systems, inconsistent user experiences, and inefficient resource allocation. He reiterated the importance of a whole-of-government approach to avoid duplication of digital systems and to direct funds towards other essential needs in schools.

The portal was handed over to the Education Ministry, which will be responsible for maintaining its content up to date, underscoring that sustainable digital transformation requires clear ownership. The final objective is the welfare of people, not just technology.