Falling between the cracks: Bedouin students and the digital divide during the Covid-19 crisis

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic led to the closure of schools and higher education institutions worldwide, necessitating a shift to distance learning. This transition had significant impacts on working conditions, education, the economy, and the environment. Access to infrastructure and information and communication technologies became crucial for students to continue their academic studies. However, marginalized communities in Israel faced additional challenges due to existing social gaps. This study focuses on Bedouin students in southern Israel attending higher education institutions and examines the difficulties they encountered during the transition to distance learning. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed to 257 Bedouin students during the first Covid-19 outbreak in Israel (April-July 2020). The research aimed to identify the types of digital divide experienced by Bedouin students and explore how this gap influenced their learning experiences. Results show that Bedouin students faced significant digital inequality, lacking the necessary prerequisites for distance learning, mainly due to limited access to digital devices and a stable Internet connection. These findings shed light on the specific challenges faced by the research population and emphasize the need to address these challenges to ensure equitable and inclusive education for all.

Keywords

• digital divide
• marginalized communities
• bedouins
• distance learning
• covid-19 pandemic