The implications of the digital divide on rural students enrolled in Open and Distance e-learning institutions

Abstract

When compared to the semi or urban-student population, the rural student population in South Africa is far behind in technological advancement. Only a tiny percentage of the rural student population in South Africa enjoys access to technology. This digital divide is exacerbated by the uneven distribution of resources among urban and rural areas. The rural communities continue to be the most disadvantaged due to their remoteness, the ills of the past apartheid system, poverty, low income, and less access to technology. On this note, a survey of the rural student population registered in a selected Open and Distance e-learning (ODeL) institution was conducted to determine the implications of the digital divide. The data were collected from 150 students through face-to-face focus group discussions. The findings revealed that the students staying in rural communities are primarily disadvantaged due to the inaccessibility of online systems. They are isolated by their context, infrastructure, and limited access to electricity and internet services. The inaccessibility of online systems in their areas makes their learning objectives impossible to achieve. The challenges drawn from the findings indicate a need for alternative support measures. Therefore, this paper provides crucial strategies to bridge the gap and ensure equitable digital access to rural students.