Impact of Digital Divide on Education in Pakistan

What is Digital Divide?

Digital divide is the unequal access to digital technologies and digital resources. Pakistan’s political economy and instability has pushed people to move to other countries where they have employed digital technologies to enhance socio-economic development. Countries have been successful in creating a life in metaverse while Pakistan still struggles to provide access to digital technologies to all citizens equally.

Digital technologies offer a wide range of opportunities but using these opportunities for benefit is heavily dependent upon a country’s digital readiness. Adopting these technologies and acquiring the skills to use them could not only improve the economic opportunities but would also enable individuals to create new economic opportunities that did not exist before.

Factors Contributing to Digital Divide 

• High Tax on Internet 

The high taxation on the internet has become a pressing issue for people, especially students from low-income or rural backgrounds as they need internet services for their education. Not being able to afford the internet has placed them at a disadvantage because they are unable to compete with their peers who have a reliable internet connection. They lag behind because they cannot take up online courses, online lectures and can not access digital libraries which are vital for their education.

• Cultural Norms 

Gender gap has also been identified as one of the reasons behind the digital divide. In the Pakistani conservative societies, men are considered as dominant while women are submissive so males are more likely to own a smartphone with internet connection while women are not empowered enough to make their own decisions. 

A study on unequal access to technology affecting educational inclusivity found out that in rural areas, access to digital devices is dependent on the gender of a person. A woman is less likely to own a digital device in such areas limiting their ability to benefit from technological advancements in education. 

• Socio-economic Status 

Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face a lot of challenges when it comes to their education. They often do not have their personal laptops, smartphones and other digital devices required for their education unlike their peers from high income backgrounds. These students do not have the privilege of leveraging digital platforms to enhance their learning which results in widening the learning gap between them and their fellows. 

• Urban vs Rural 

The digital divide is increasing because of the difference in the technological advancements in different regions especially urban and rural areas. Rural areas do not have access to the latest technology nor can they afford it. Even if they can afford it, the rate of digital literacy is lower in these areas so even if they own digital devices, they would not be able to use it to its full potential. This digital illiteracy contributes to a skills gap which becomes a problem for them when looking for jobs. 

• Digital illiteracy of Teachers

Digital illiteracy among teachers is a pressing issue as they are unable to incorporate technology in their lectures, creating a barrier to learning. During the pandemic, when schools and  universities shifted online, teachers who were not tech savvy had a hard time taking lectures, sharing relevant material and assessing students online. 

Impact of Digital Divide 

• Quality of Education 

Quality of education is greatly affected by the digital divide as students who have less access to the internet and digital devices are at a disadvantage. They are missing out on; 

• Interactive learning platforms 

• Online libraries 

• Online learning opportunities 

• Access to information 

• Digital Literacy Skills

• Career and Job Readiness 

• Networking

• Global exposure 

When students are missing out on these opportunities at a large scale, not only their own future but the country’s future is also at risk. 

• Career at Risk 

This digital divide is a hindrance for students to compete in a digitally-driven job market. Since during their learning phase, they had limited access to these technologies, they now lack essential skills to apply for good jobs. Areas where they can work becomes very limited and they also miss out on opportunities to work remotely as they do not own digital devices. They also miss out on job opportunities as everything has become digitized and they lack access to professional platforms like LinkedIn. They have limited career growth as without these devices, they remain confined to local jobs and do not get the opportunity to explore the global market. 

• Impact on Special Education 

Digital divide has placed special education students on even a greater disadvantage as they require assistive devices and accessible technology to support their unique learning requirements. If they do not have access to these resources, it will hinder their ability to progress in this fast-pacing environment. 

• Economic Stagnation 

According to a study, only 24% of adults know how to browse the internet. Digital divide is limiting the students’ ability to develop skills related to technology, data analysis and digital communication. These are the skills that are in high demand in the workforce so when half of the population of a country does not have these skills, it leads to a less skilled workforce and a stagnant economy of the country. Lack of access to technology leads to the shrinking of the emerging industries like tech and engineering. 

Possible Solutions 

• Inclusivity 

The government should make such policies that make it easier for the marginalized groups to access digital technologies. They should make internet access affordable in rural areas. This can be done through federal funding or they could partner with companies like Jazz, Ufone to provide affordable data packages to students living in rural areas. 

• Digital Infrastructure 

The government should work on improving the digital infrastructure. This includes ensuring that everybody is getting access to high-speed internet. They should also focus on the installation of fibre optic cables in remote and rural areas.

• Digital Literacy Trainings

Digital literacy training should be given to both teachers and students so they can use digital devices effectively. For teachers, the government can arrange workshops in rural areas for teachers and equip them with the required skills to use digital technologies. As for students, a digital literacy course should be added in the curriculum.