Can new technologies solve the problem of unequal access to education?
For reference: This series of trendsetters continues the practice of publishing reviews of global technological trends since 2014 and presents a unique database of global trends and challenges in the field of human development. This research of the HSE ISSEK is based on the results of iFORA Big Data System, the Delphi survey (with the participation of more than 400 leading foreign and Russian scientists), expert sessions and interviews.
The education sector is the third largest investor in VR, AR, and MR technologies, behind only the gaming industry and healthcare. Modern technologies will allow for the creation of learning environments that are close to real ones and the acquisition of skills without risk. This is especially important when training for professions that involve dangerous work or interaction with people.
However, the inequality of educational opportunities remains an important problem. The World Bank estimates that 260 million children do not have access to schooling, and by 2030 this figure may fall to only 200 million. The implementation of online learning can be effective only if the "digital divide" is reduced.
Successful online education requires a strong internet infrastructure and access to electronic devices. Internet access ranges from 5% in Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau and Somalia to 95% in Norway, the Republic of Korea and Bahrain. Approximately 1.3 billion children aged 3 to 17 do not have access to the internet at home, making online education inaccessible to them. This problem exists not only in low-income countries, where only 6% of children have access to the internet, but also in high-income countries, where the figure reaches 86%.
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