THE growing digital divide in urban and rural areas hampers access to quality education, particularly in underserved areas. While urban schools increasingly integrate technology into classrooms, many students in rural and remote regions cont-inue to lack access even to the internet and digital devices.

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for technology in education. With online learning becoming the norm, students from low-income families or rural regions were disproportionately affected, struggling with limited or no access to digital resources.

To truly enhance the quality of education across the country, it is crucial to ensure equitable access to technology. Governments and educational authorities must prioritise investments in infrastr-ucture, such as high-speed internet and affordable devices, especially in remote areas. Teachers should also receive quality training to effectively integrate technology into their teaching practices.

Furthermore, policies must be intro-duced to ensure that all students, regar-dless of their socioeconomic background, have easy access to high-quality digital resources.

Collaboration between the public and private sectors can help bridge this gap. The digital divide must be addressed to ensure that technology enhances, rather than hinders, the educational opport-unities for future generations.

By focussing on equitable access and quality digital integration, Pakistan can empower students across the country to thrive in an increasingly digital world .

Aisha Allah Dino
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2024