30/06/2021
Although the has been prominent throughout education systems all over the world, the coronavirus pandemic has really elevated the problem. Disadvantaged students have literally been left in the dark, with no way of logging on and although schools are slowly opening back up and gradually returning to ‘normal’, the digital divide is still ever present.
It’s not just concerns for education and loss of learning either – without the technology to do so, communication is almost near impossible for students to stay in touch with their peers or check in with teachers or faculty staff. Many disadvantaged students also live in areas that make it difficult to spend time outdoors, or find a safe space to get on with their studies.
The return to school after a long period of isolation may affect disadvantaged children further; their peers will have had regular communication with others, forming and developing relationships. This can lead to children feeling left out, or becoming isolated when they return to school. It’s not just a case of access to learning for all, but access to communication, to socialising to safeguarding. Blended learning will become the new normal – but not before the digital divide is addressed.
It’s not just access to equipment that’s the issue – many students don’t have regular access to the internet, which not only stops them from communicating effectively, but also limiting their ability to research topics, putting them at a further disadvantage to their peers, who can find new information at the click of a button. No longer are we just looking at the digital divide, but also digital poverty – students who belong to families that simply cannot afford laptops, smartphones, or even a monthly internet connection.
