The Digital Divide: Why it Matters and How to Fix it

EdQuarter Presents: The Education Station

On June 15, Tory MPs, Tony Blair and leading UK charities issued a warning to the education secretary, stating that as many as 700,000 children – the very same bunch who have been eligible for free school meals throughout the lockdown – also don’t have access to the internet at home. The open letter cited fears that the young people who are falling behind now “may never catch up”…

But this is by no means an issue that’s exclusive to the UK. Remote learning relies on tech and tech costs money to implement. In this new remote world, is it fair that some students are automatically disadvantaged because their socioeconomic circumstances are not the same as their peers? Will this gap in access further marginalise underrepresented learners? How can we ensure reliable and equitable access for all so every student has a fair chance of unleashing their full potential? Will the government fulfil their promise, or will this be a lasting battle that puts the most vulnerable and disadvantaged students at risk?

MEET THE PANEL

Abdul Chohan, ThinkSimple Ltd / Twitter @Abdulchohan

Nathan Snider, Manager of Policy & Outreach, ICTC / Twitter @thisisnathans

Ruth Drysdale, Digital Consultant – Data and Digital Capability, Jisc / Twitter @RSDrysdale