DIGITAL DIVIDE AND EDUCATION FOR THE RURAL FOLKS: THE LEVEL OF ICT LITERACY

Abstract

Despite several initiatives taken by the Government of Malaysia to bridge the digital divide, more effort is needed, especially in raising the economic and educational status in rural areas. Digital divide refers to the inequal opportunities to access Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities between urban and rural areas. This paper examines whether ICT skills do contribute in narrowing the gap between the rural and urban areas via a case study in a rural area i.e. Kundang Ulu, Muar Johor. Survey employing questionnaire was adopted to collect data on the respondent’s background, ICT usage, and the competency of ICT skills involving 585 students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Temenggung Ahmad (SMKTTA). The results show a small percentage of computer ownership, low ICT usage, and moderate levels in acquiring basic ICT skills. These findings reveal that digital gap is a persistent issue in rural areas like Kundang Ulu. This paper seeks to help policy makers to write relevant policies and also other authorities in identifying strategies for bridging the digital divide in Malaysia.

Keywords

• digital divide
• ict literacy
• rural areas
• access to ict
• kundang ulu