Digital-divide-worsens-Pakistan-education-sector-amid-Covid-19

COVID19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of a digital and globalized world in profound ways not only in the health sector but also in the education sector. This pandemic has hit humanity like a thunderbolt and the international community is still scrambling to contain the spread of this deadly virus.

The education sector is badly shaken in the wake of this pandemic and UNESCO reported that nationwide closures have impacted 89% of the world’s student population. Developed countries have robust technological infrastructures and have switched to digital platforms in order to cope with the evolving situation.

Educational institutes in Pakistan have also adopted this strategy of making use of the digital platforms to engage students but this strategy is exclusive as it only caters to the students who can afford digital accessibility. Both students and teachers are complaining about the hurdles that come their way owing to poor internet connectivity.

Students belonging to FATA and Balochistan are worse off when it comes to accessing these digital platforms owing to a lack of internet facility in these poverty-stricken areas. Students are protesting and voicing their concerns for being excluded from these digital platforms which would affect their academic year.

Students belonging to these areas are voicing their concerns on social media and criticizing the policy decision of transition to online platforms without taking into account the ground realities.

The majority of students belonging to these areas are studying on scholarships and they ill afford internet access. These students are now exposed to the class differences that are part and parcel of our inequitable society.

These online platforms are accessible to students belonging to well off families, but students from poor households are deprived of this facility which speaks volumes about the state’s criminal neglect and misplaced priorities.

Balochistan and erstwhile FATA were the epicenters of terrorism and military operations that disrupted the socio-economic fabric of these underdeveloped areas.

After being on the receiving end of terrorist violence for well over a decade, these areas are plagued with illiteracy, unemployment, and deplorable health facilities which speak volumes about state criminal neglect and its failure to bring normalcy to these areas.

Students belonging to these areas were enrolled in different universities of Punjab to pursue their higher education.

Balochistan and erstwhile FATA were the epicenters of terrorism and military operations that disrupted the socio-economic fabric of these underdeveloped areas. After being on the receiving end of terrorist violence for well over a decade, these areas are plagued with illiteracy, unemployment, and deplorable health facilities which speak volumes about state criminal neglect and its failure to bring normalcy to these areas.

Students belonging to these areas were enrolled in different universities of Punjab to pursue their higher education. They were forced to vacate their hostels and were advised to go back to their hometowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This non-provision of internet facility is sowing the seeds of discontent and students have started questioning the inequitable state structure which has resulted in the persecution of people belonging to these areas.