Nadine Barrett-Maitland | Development hinges on reducing digital divide

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the true magnitude of the digital divide. The digital divide describes the bayou between people with and those without Internet access. Data from a recent World Bank report revealed that almost three billion people remained offline at the end of 2021. Most live in developing countries without access to the Internet. Close to 43 per cent of the global population are not using mobile Internet, though many live in areas with broadband coverage.

According to the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the “COVID connectivity boost” has resulted in approximately 782 million new online users, representing a global increase of 17 per cent. However, 37 per cent or 2.9 billion people remain offline and have never used the Internet, according to the World Bank’s report dated April 20, 2022. Approximately 96 per cent of the unconnected population lives in developing countries. The grim reality is only about 35 per cent of the developing world can access the Internet compared to about 80 per cent of advanced economies.

UNEQUAL CONNECTIVITY

Economic development cannot be equal if connectivity remains unequal. In this digital era, access to broadband (or high-speed) Internet is necessary for economic and human development. The digital have-nots are significantly disadvantaged because digital inclusion can be a precursor for reducing poverty, managing inequality, advancing economic growth and fostering social development.

The Internet is a powerful tool for delivering essential services such as education and healthcare. It increases opportunities for the empowerment of marginalised groups and environmental sustainability. It also contributes to enhanced government transparency and accountability. The Internet facilitates new jobs in information and communication technology (ICT), engineering and other sectors and can be a catalyst for job skills development.

DIGITAL/INTERNET GAP

Most of the ‘digitally excluded’ live in rural areas. The digital have-nots face daunting challenges. Among them are a lack of digital awareness and the skills required, poverty, illiteracy and limited access to electricity.

A recent UNICEF report proves over half the world’s children and youth are on the “wrong side of the digital divide”. In Jamaica, residents of rural parishes had to travel miles to access an Internet connection. Some principals and educators travelled on bikes and through gullies and allies to deliver school materials to children during the pandemic. The education ministry revealed that 59 per cent of primary school students were not engaged during the pandemic. Over 19,000 children of basic school age were not engaged. When measured against the secondary schools’ numbers, an alarming 58 per cent of students from basic to secondary levels were not engaged during the pandemic. Please tell me if this is not cause for concern.

Addressing this issue is not a simple matter because there are no silver bullets. We must be intentional about addressing this problem. Changing the trajectory requires specific strategies, measured actions and accountability. It may take years to complete this journey; however, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step’. Urban areas are not Jamaica and most of the population lives in rural parishes. It will take more than ordinary thinking, planning and execution to arrest this problem. According to the UNICEF report, if we do not address the learning loss incurred during the pandemic, this cohort of young people will lose over 10 trillion dollars in earnings.

Taking advantage of the opportunities and managing our digital selves is key to reaping the benefits of the digital economy. Digital literacy and access for all are crucial for growth and development in the information age. We cannot sit by and allow approximately 58 per cent of the GenZ group in Jamaica to remain behind in a world that makes room for these digital natives (social media practitioners and billionaires) to reach their full potential. We no longer live in a brick-and-mortar society. The interconnected nature of today’s society removes all geographical boundaries and opens the door for opportunities that would be impossible without technology and the Internet.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Bridging the digital divide will require a collaborative effort and digital inclusion. Digital inclusion is a vehicle for shared prosperity. Achieving this will require large investments from both the government and private entities. It will take a village to accomplish this goal and require ‘all hands on deck’. However, becoming a digitally literate society will require removing the stumbling blocks such as lack of basic access to Internet and digital tool along with digital illiteracy. Everyone will benefit from the removal of these roadblocks. Rejuvenating sustainable development and putting Jamaica back on track to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 can be aided by technological/digital solutions.

There is a direct relationship between the digital divide and the quality of life in this digital era. The digital divide reduces the economic and social opportunities for the digitally illiterate and the digital have-nots. Let us join hands and hearts together and help our brothers and sisters who are being left behind digitally.

Dr Nadine Barrett-Maitland is senior lecturer at School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Technology, Jamaica. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com