I was working from home the other day and had the privilege of sitting beside my 10-year-old son at the dining table who was partaking in a half-day virtual class. We have certainly come a long way when it comes to digital classrooms.
In fact, many schools today are moving beyond the crisis-induced online or hybrid learning models of the pandemic years to further their digitalization efforts, supported by age-appropriate educational technology and online learning platforms to achieve the intended learning outcomes, thus ushering in a new digital-first education era in the region.
Research firm IDC recently found that 44% of Asia-Pacific schools have shifted to a digital learning model incorporating blended learning and modernized technology. Among schools in the region, 59% also planned to upgrade or invest in modern technology for the digital classroom in 2025.
These insights come from a Samsung-commissioned IDC InfoBrief, “Modernization of Learning through Digital Tech Investments,” involving some 500 infocomm technology decision makers across public and private schools in eight markets – Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam – in 2024.
The research also found half of the schools actively investing in digitalization say they are modernizing their curriculum to incorporate blended learning and hybrid learning models. In fact, almost two-thirds of schools in Asia-Pacific plan to upgrade or invest in modern technology to enable the digital classroom by 2025. Notably, half of this investment will be in new technology, not just upgrades.
With the right technologies in place, schools can address complex challenges and enhance the learning journey. Across every metric deemed important by schools, the measured benefits of digitalization are substantial, according to IDC.
Schools where the adoption of technology and new learning models is high, are reporting between 2-4x higher performance than opportunistic adopters, particularly student educational performance, school reputation, and student well-being, it found.
Strong Move Towards Digital Classrooms is Bringing Real Benefits to Students in Asia
Leslie Goh, Head of Regional Display Solutions, Southeast Asia & Oceania, Samsung Electronics
Aug 28. 2025A new digital-first education era is here
History has taught us that sometimes big leaps in science and technology occur under duress.
The digitalization in schools had been accelerated during the pandemic crisis of around
2020, when students had to
attend classes and collaborate with classmates remotely. Since then, schools have picked up
the pace in building a more
resilient digital-first learning model.
Across Asia Pacific (excluding Japan and China), the education sector was estimated to have
spent more than US$8.5
billion on various infocomm technologies, including hardware, software, and services, in
2023, according to IDC.
The research firm also found that 59% of schools in the region expect to invest in upgrades
of existing classroom
technology or completely new technology to enable digital classrooms by 2025.
The investments are expected to shape how students learn, and deliver lasting benefits for a
new generation of young
people in the region. Notably, 35% of learning is expected to involve online or virtual
components in 2025, up from 25%
in 2023.
Soundbite from Edutech Webinar:
“Technology alone doesn’t guarantee better outcomes—its impact depends on teachers having the
right
mindset and pedagogical skills. In our experience, when we hire teachers with the right
attributes—such
as enthusiasm,open-mindedness, and even a sense of humor—technology becomes a far more
powerful tool.”
Jaspal Sidhu, Chairman and Founder, SIS and Inspirasi Group of Schools
Digital priorities in schools
With their limited budgets in mind, schools always must prioritize their spending on digital technologies according to their needs. In this region, the split between upgrades and new technologies is an even 50-50, signally a willingness to further enhance learning experiences and outcomes using digital tools.
Among these investments, monitors are the most common for schools, with 43% already using a monitor, and 54% planning to invest in getting each of their teaching staff an additional monitor over the next year or two. This is followed by laptops, chromebooks and tablets for teachers, as well as other hardware such as interactive projectors, and smart whiteboards for classrooms.
Interestingly, among new technologies schools are adopting, 17% already have smart air conditioners or purifiers that adapt to the presence of people, while 59% have plans to invest or upgrade. Other new technologies viewed as important are education robots and augmented or virtual reality headsets, according to IDC.
While benefits of such technologies vary across markets, there are several crucial improvements that positively impact classroom digitalization. In the InfoBrief, increased student engagement, better preparation of digital skills for a modern workforce, and improved operational efficiency in schools, are practical outcomes that schools now enjoy with increased digitalization.
To be sure, there will be challenges to digital classrooms. Concerns such as equity and access to technology have been highlighted in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam in the IDC study. Connectivity plays a big part as well, since poor Internet services can disrupt lessons.
Soundbite from Edutech Webinar:
“With AI and online resources placing knowledge at students’ fingertips, the role of educators is evolving—from simply delivering lessons to empowering students with the critical thinking skills they need to succeed.”
Dr. Andrew Heng, Adjunct Lecturer, Singapore Management University
Samsung – your trusted education partner
Across Southeast Asia and Oceania, Samsung is committed to helping educators build new digital classrooms to empower their next generation of learners.
Samsung's overall strategy for the education sector is centered around providing a comprehensive suite of devices, solutions, and services designed to enhance learning outcomes and create engaging digital classrooms, including interactive displays for more engaging lessons, AI-enabled tablets and smartphones, and smart air-conditioners.
The new Samsung WAFX-P Interactive Display powered by Samsung AI Assistant, , transforms traditional lessons into dynamic, interactive experiences that maximize learning outcomes. Teachers can instantly search for information from trusted resources with Circle to Search, generate concise lesson recaps using AI Summary, and convert spoken words into text in real time using Live Transcript. It is also Google EDLA-certified, allowing seamless access to services like Google Classroom and Google Drive, further enriching the educational experience.
The WAFX-P Interactive Display will be available across Southeast Asia and Oceania in the fourth quarter of 2025
Soundbite from Edutech Webinar:
“Technology is the enabler, but often, from a deployment standpoint, it is often a challenge too. Schools need to look at how technology is seamlessly connected from the classroom, campus and even homes. This is where Cisco’s partnership with Samsung comes in –both companies have decades of experiences in bringing the best of devices, displays and networking technologies together to create new possibilities in digital learning.”
Anand Hariharan, Director, Systems Engineering, Collaboration Sales, Cisco APJC
Samsung's deep partner ecosystem plays a crucial role in this strategy, collaborating with trusted partners to deliver innovative solutions, engaging content, and tailored services that meet the diverse needs of schools.
We have also rolled out programs to provide resources to assist the digitalization efforts of schools in the region, especially in emerging markets. One such effort is the Samsung for Education program to enhance teacher development, foster an inspiring learning environment, and improve student engagement through digital learning.
The program was launched recently in two schools in Indonesia - Al Muslim Bekasi and Salman Al Farisi Bandung. Working with Samsung, the schools seek to accelerate their digital transformation journeys and enhance the learning experiences of over 2,500 students with Galaxy mobile devices such as the Galaxy Tab S and A Series, protected by Samsung Knox.
A useful new resource for educators is the newly-launched Samsung Learning Hub, rolled out in end-January. Aimed at educators in the region, it will offer online training, teaching materials, certifications, and a community to elevate teaching and learning outcomes.
I encourage you to download the recorded Samsung Edutech Webinar session, as well as read the Samsung-IDC InfoBrief, “Modernization of Learning through Digital Tech Investments” by simply just completing the online form on this page.
