E-learning in a pandemic era
Exploring the digital gaps and needs of rural secondary schools and remote communities across 6 Nigerian states.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol9.iss5.3136Keywords:
COVID-19, digital gaps, digital needs, e-learning, remote communitiesAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a digital economy transition by emphasizing the importance of digital infrastructure while exposing the digital gaps between countries and communities. Inequalities in digital access has impeded educational gains made towards achieving the sustainable development goals. While major studies have been carried out on digital learning there is currently a dearth of knowledge on the digital gaps and needs of students in remote communities in Nigeria. To this end, this study explored the digital gaps and needs of rural secondary schools in remote communities and its implications on e-learning across 6 Nigerian states during the COVID-19 era. The study adopted a concurrent embedded mixed method design approach to collect data from rural secondary schools from 6 Nigerian states. Findings from the study identified lack of ICT strategies and policies in Nigeria, socio-economic status, poor internet connectivity, electricity, and a high poverty level as the major drivers of digital gaps in remote communities.
References
Amorighoye, T. A. (2020). Coronavirus has exposed the education divide in Nigeria. The World Economic Forum COVID Action Platform. https://www. weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/education-nigeria-covid19-digital-divide/. Accessed 20 March 2020.
Azubuike, O., Adegboye, O., Quadri, H. (2020) Who gets to learn in a pandemic? Exploring the digital divide in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100022
Chair, C. & De Lannoy, A. (2018). Youth, deprivation and the internet in africa. policy paper no. 4, series 5: after access – assessing digital inequality in Africa. https://researchictafrica.net/after-access-survey-papers/2018/After_Access:_youth_ and_digital_inequality_in_Africa.pdf
Drori, G. (2010) Globalization and Technology Divide: Bifurcation of Policy between the Digital Divide and the Innovation divide. Sociological Inquiry. 80:1, 63-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.2009.00316.x
Gudmundsdottir, G. (2010). From digital divide to digital equity: Learners’ ICT competence in four primary schools in Cape Town, South Africa. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, 6(2), 84–105. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/42335/.
Ifijeh, G., Iwu-james, J., Adebayo, O. (2016) Digital Inclusion and Sustainable Development in Nigeria : The Role of Libraries
International ICT Literacy Panel (2002). Digital transformation: A framework for ICT literacy. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Services.
International Telecommunication Union. (ITU). (2019b). Measuring dig[1]ital development: Facts and figures 2019. Geneva: Switzerland. https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/facts/FactsFigures2019.pdf
Nwegbu, Mercy U. (Ph.D), Osadebe, Ngozi E., & Asadu, Boniface U. (2011). The Impact of Digital Divide on E-learning in Nigeria. Journal of Applied Information Science and Technology, 5.1
OECD (2000). The Creative societies of the 21st century. France. OECD.7-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264182479-en
OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19): The impact of COVID-19 on student equity and inclusion: Supporting vulnerable students during school closures and school re-openings . Available at https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-student-equity-and-inclusion-supporting-vulnerable-students-during-school-closures-and-school-re-openings-d593b5c8/ (Accessed on April 19, 2021)
Onyema E. (2020) Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Education
Rozina, I. (2002) Theory and Practice of Computer assisted communication: present-day situation and future perspectives. In: Theory of Communication and Applied Communication Association. Journal of Russian Communication Association, Issue 1
Rubagiza, J., Were, E., & Sutherland, R. (2011). Introducing ICT into schools in Rwanda: Educational challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(1), 37–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.06.004
Sciadas, G. (2002). Unveiling the digital divide, Connectedness Series 3. Ottawa. Statistics Canada.
Shelly, M.C, Thrane, L & Shulman, S (2006). Lost in Cyberspace: Barriers to Bridging the Digital
Shittu, A., Ibrahim, H., Adedokun-Shittu, N., Jimoh, R. (2014) Bridging The Digital Divide in Local Government: The Study of Internet Access and Digital Literacy in Nigeria Rural Area
TEP Centre (2020). Learning in a pandemic: Nigeria’s response to teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Education Partnership (TEP) Centre. https://www.tepcentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Learning-in-a-Pandemic[1]Report_TEP-NESG_2020.pdf.
UNICEF COVID-19: Are children able to continue learning during school closures? Available at https://www.unicef.org/brazil/media/10006/file/remote-learning-factsheet.pdf (Accessed on April 19, 2021)
United Nations. (2020). Policy Brief: Education during COVID-19 and beyond. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/ 08/sg_policy_brief_covid-19_and_education_august_2020.pdf Van Dijk, J. A. (2006). Digital divide research, achievements and shortcomings. Poetics, 34(4-5), 221–235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2006.05.004
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (UN[1]ESCO). (2020). COVID-19 Educational Disruption and Response. https://en.unesco.org/COVID-19/educationresponse. Accessed 20 June 2020
United States Department of Commerce (2002) Falling through the Net: Towards Digital Inclusion. Washington, US Dept. of Commerce. 4.
Wong, Y, Fung, J., Lam, J &Lee, V (2009) Tackling the Digital Divide. British Journal of Social Work. 39:4, 574-767 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcp026
Yinusa A. (2016) Opportunities for Universal Telecommunication Access in Rural Communities: A Case Study of 15 Rural Villages in Nigeria’s Kwara State
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Gideon Seun Olanrewaju, Abiodun Yetunde Omotosho, Olajide Charles Falajiki, Godwin Osama
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyrights for articles published in IJIER journals are retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. The journal/publisher is not responsible for subsequent uses of the work. It is the author's responsibility to bring an infringement action if so desired by the author for more visit Copyright & License.
How to Cite
Accepted 2021-04-29
Published 2021-05-01
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- GIDEON SEUN OLANREWAJU, Abiodun Yetunde Omotosho, Olajide Charles Falajiki, Godwin Osama, The Need for Context-specificity in Global Educational Policy Transfer by Non-state Actors , International Journal for Innovation Education and Research: Vol. 9 No. 5 (2021): International Journal for Innovation Education and Research