Aspirational Hazards: EdTech Digital Divide

In July’s EdTech Monday program, a spirited conversation about the digital divide ensued, with a particular focus on public digital infrastructure and digital literacy. The monthly show spurred a realization that economic factors play the most dominant role in exacerbating the digital divide in education.

Mahder Mulusew, a lecturer at Addis Ababa University Science and Technology University, highlighted the importance of education in bridging the gap in access to technology and digital literacy.

“Students from low-income backgrounds are less likely to have access to devices and the internet,” she underscored. “Those with financial means find it easier to purchase and learn to use technology.”

Mahder pointed out how students who lack access to the necessary devices and infrastructure struggle to complete assignments and fall behind in school compared to their digitally enabled counterparts.

The architect and lecturer emphasized the indispensable role of digital devices in her field of expertise due to the constant emergence of new technologies. She referred to significant differences in the performance of architecture students through improved competency with digital tools.

Reliance on digital technologies in education is becoming increasingly common, as many students need to use an internet-enabled device to complete homework and research projects or attend remote classes. Colleges and universities often require students to submit applications online, and students usually need to use the computer to research scholarships, prepare for standardized tests, and complete other educational tasks.

The rapid expansion of the Internet has radically altered how humans communicate, consume information, conduct business, work, learn, and adapt to technology. Data from the UN specialized agency ITU indicates that 5.4 billion people, or roughly 67% of the global population, are currently online, a 45% increase over five years.

While Ethiopia registered lower Internet access figures than the continental average of 40% and the sub-Saharan 30%, the numbers paint an even more startling picture when disaggregated by gender and location. Urban areas had a higher access rate of 42%, while only 9.08% of rural residents were online, with 14% of women and 20% of men having access, according to 2023 research by the Internet Society.

Despite the low penetration, Ethiopia has seen steady growth in internet adoption over the past decade, with active mobile broadband subscriptions increasing from 3.7 million in 2012 to 31.7 million in 2022. This surge has resulted in over 36 million users in 2023, representing about 35% of the population. However, with many Ethiopians still offline, a significant unevenness in distribution persists.

The digital divide disproportionately affects certain groups, particularly women and people living in poverty. Millions still reside in rural areas with inadequate internet service and lack the financial means to buy a computer or purchase internet subscriptions. Students from low-income families are also less likely to have internet access due to affordability.

In Ethiopia, the most economical fixed broadband monthly plan, offering a minimum of 5 GB of data, is priced at $6.18. In contrast, an entry-level monthly data-only mobile broadband plan of 4 GB costs $1.85. These prices are often unaffordable for a significant portion of the population.

Lidetu Tadesse, manager and co-founder of 4K Labs at Addis Ababa University, emphasized the importance of digital skills and infrastructure. “Even with infrastructure in place, a lack of teacher training can hinder the adoption of educational technology solutions, exacerbating the digital divide,” he underscored.

Lidetu highlighted during the EdTech program the critical intersection of infrastructure, affordability, and digital literacy in bridging the digital divide. This intuition is further reaffirmed by population figures, which illustrate that 80% of the population still resides in rural communities with limited access to the Internet, compounded by low digital literacy.

Amanuel Teshome, founder and Chief Strategist of MindTech Solutions, provided discerning insight on the need for a simultaneous increase in education about ICT tool use and expansion of access.

“Access alone doesn’t guarantee digital awareness,” he said. This sentiment is further bolstered by feedback from Mahder. “Disproportionately affected students lose on creativity and the capacity to compete in today’s world,” Mahder underscored. “It also creates a feeling of isolation for students with poor digital access.”

The economic cost of the digital divide disproportionately affects poor people, and countries like Ethiopia lose on earnings, productivity, innovation, and opportunities, whereas young people lose on aspirations and prospects.

Economic contribution of broadband, digitization, and ICT regulation: Econometric modeling for Africa reveals that a 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration in Africa is linked to a 2.5% increase in GDP per capita. Increasing the mobile broadband penetration rate is not simply a question of infrastructure availability. The same research notes that a 10% drop in the price of mobile broadband for consumers boosts adoption by more than 3.1%.

The digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy acknowledges the economic benefit of connectivity. “Connectivity is a foundational element of digital transformation and can drive socioeconomic development,” the strategy notes.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has yet to digitize its educational resources and distribute these materials, leaving students to bear the costs of accessing books and educational materials. This is especially burdensome for those without the financial means to afford the Internet.

Nonetheless, Ethiopia is pushing a range of initiatives to increase access. In July, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), in partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), kicked off a nationwide initiative to provide foundational digital skills training to five million Ethiopian youth over the next three years.

Prime Minister Abiy’s administration has also announced plans to incorporate coding courses into the national curriculum, specifically through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, to expand national digital competency.

Additionally, organizations such as Wingu Africa, ICT Park, Gebeya, and Safaricom are launching various private initiatives. However, the question remains whether these initiatives will effectively address the digital divide, as they primarily target individuals with internet access and basic digital literacy.

An ecosystem study by Reach for Change of EdTech companies in Ethiopia found that 75% of EdTech startups are located in Addis Ababa, with a gender digital divide of 80% male to 20% female, highlighting significant disparities in both urban-rural access and gender representation.

This latest episode of the EdTech Mondays Radio Show also explored the use of technology for good, particularly the growing prominence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational ecosystem.

“These tools are beneficial for many tasks, making automation easier and facilitating brainstorming, although they come with drawbacks if not used ethically,” Lidetu underscored. He suggested that educational institutions integrate AI tools into their programs and teach students how to use them effectively.

Produced in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and Shega Media & Technology, the episode also served up discussions on how economic barriers, geographic disparities, and insufficient educational resources fuel the digital divide in education.