The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the ever-increasing infrastructural imbalances in school education. Within weeks after the outbreak, the pandemic changed the entire education delivery system. The disruption left students, practitioners and policy makers in a fix. The global COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted the fault lines and digital divide in the educational infrastructure and put children living in the remotest pockets of the country at the epicentre of the disruption. They were severely hit when the entire education system was shifted online. It has turned upside down their learning process and engagement.

Access to digital tools is the need of the hour, but it is also a grave challenge for children from the underserved communities. Inadequacies such as limited access to digital devices, poor network and internet connectivity, has disconnected the education of these children. In this regard, the public-private partnership (PPP) model plays the most important role. 

How CSOs & corporates can bridge the digital divide

• Addressing the infrastructure gap: Given a proper policy direction, technology and infrastructure have the capability to bridge the ever widening chasm that exists. Urgent and immediate attention must be channeled to building infrastructure for the digital learning experience. CSR initiatives targeted at improving accessibility to infrastructure, can be designed and aligned with pre-existing government initiatives, or can be implemented separately as well. Companies can extend their resources and aid children from the underserved communities, by providing devices to access the internet, or can set up computer labs in partnership with CSOs and build an enabling environment for them. Telecom companies can look at rolling out economical internet plans, or can build network towers for increased internet connectivity.
• Breaking the language barrier: India is a multilingual, multicultural, and socially diverse country where a broad framework that fits all may not be a practical approach. Most of the digital learning modules available today are in English, and this acts as a hindrance in the adoption of online learning modules, especially in regions where the primary language is not English. Corporates can partner with training institutes, EdTechs and develop learning curriculums in vernacular languages for increased adoption.
• Upskilling Teachers: While children face issues in accessing education digitally, teachers face issues in delivering education through digital mediums. The shift to online mode of education saw teachers struggling to adopt and teach students online. The major challenge was being unfamiliar with digital tools and digital illiteracy. Social programmes can be designed where corporates can mobilize resources to upskill educators.
• Addressing the gender gap: Girls owing to patriarchal mindset, gender norms and stereotypes, face increased domestic duties. This affects their ability to access online education either because of inadequate access to the internet and gadgets or because the male child and his teaching are prioritized. Gender sensitization programmes can be designed and implemented for the promotion of inclusive education.

The scope of e-learning is enormous and can help realize the potential of each student. The aim should be to ensure equal and adequate access to such platforms as the country continues to globalize and catch up with advanced economies.