Why Does it Take Time to Adapt to Digital Learning?

Things like infrastructure, investment, and culture of education effect in countries adapting to digital learning.

FREMONT, CA: In terms of investing and adopting EdTech, China and the U.S. top the chart, with many countries from Asia and Western Europe following behind. China’s investment in EdTech in the year 2018 was $3 billion, while the U.S.’ was close to $2 billion.

The analysis leads to essential questions on occurrences in places like Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, which delays their investment in education technology, and the barriers in the adoption of digital learning.

Infrastructure

• Reliable Electrical Power: From a population of eight billion people in the world, close to one billion do not have access to electricity. Additionally, more people in evolving countries do not have a connection to a reliable source of power.

• Internet Access: The unavailability of high-speed internet access in schools and home constitutes for another barrier, which also results in a digital divide. Majority of developing states have cybercafes and other internet access points in public places, but many people do not have a connection at home or area of study.  

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Investment in Education

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental economic organization, most countries invest about a tad more than three percent of their GDP in education. It is hard to specify the exact amount to be invested in the EdTech because purchasing decisions are made at the state and district level. So, developing countries can invest in education technology with the amount left after covering basic categories like infrastructure maintenance, teacher salaries, and educational materials.

Culture of Education

In most of the progressing countries, the gap in the private and public education system makes it challenging to educate, attract, and adequately pay highly qualified educators. The issue is then coupled with a lack of funding for professional growth in all fields, including educational technology. Also, education policy has a direct impact on investment and execution of digital learning technologies. Countries like China with highly centralized planning and a readiness to spend can rapidly ramp up the purchase and integration of EdTech in their state.