Poor must understand the changing world”
Published by: Institute of Education and Research Studies (IERS)
Keywords: digital inequality, AI divide, global poverty, rural internet access, technology and education, digital colonialism, tech justice
Introduction: A New Kind of Divide:
While Silicon Valley celebrates the rise of AI, millions of people across the world are asking: Where is the internet?
The world is speeding into a digital-first future—powered by artificial intelligence, blockchain, and online economies. But for billions in the Global South, especially in rural and underserved areas, the basics like reliable internet, digital skills, and access to smart devices remain a luxury.
Digital inequality is no longer just a tech issue. It is a justice issue. It is the new face of poverty.
Section 1: Understanding Digital Inequality:
Digital inequality includes more than just lack of internet. It encompasses:
- Access Inequality – Poor network infrastructure in rural and remote areas.
- Device Inequality – Millions still don’t own smartphones, tablets, or laptops.
- Literacy Inequality – Even when access exists, digital skills are missing.
- Language Inequality – Most digital content is in English, excluding billions.
In Sindh’s interior, for instance, thousands of students have never opened a browser—yet global curricula now assume Google is a second brain
Section 2: AI Is Expanding—but Who’s Included?
Artificial Intelligence is transforming every industry—from healthcare to education. But the benefits are not evenly distributed.
- AI tutors are helping students in New York. In Khairpur, students wait for a single teacher to show up.
- Healthcare bots are diagnosing disease in Tokyo. In Tharparkar, a clinic is 40 kilometers away—with no digital records.
What we are witnessing is digital colonialism—where the Global South consumes but doesn’t control technology. Our data trains AI models, but we don’t own or benefit from them.
Section 3: Why This Matters for Education
For rural children, the lack of digital access is a double burden:
- They are digitally excluded from the modern workforce.
- They are unable to compete in standardized systems increasingly shaped by tech.
Institutions like IERS must treat digital literacy not as a bonus, but as a basic right in the 21st century.
ection 4: What Must Be Done
To fight digital inequality, we need multi-layered solutions:
✅ Infrastructure Investment
Governments must prioritize fiber optic internet in rural zones—not just urban metros.
✅ Public Tech Libraries
Community digital centers in schools, madrasas, and town halls can provide access to digital tools for everyone.
✅ Mother-Tongue Digital Content
Creating content in Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi, and regional dialects ensures no learner is excluded by language.
✅ Tech for the People
We must promote open-source platforms, digital rights, and non-profit AI tools that empower rather than extract.
Section 5: The Role of Institutions Like IERS
Your institution can be a game-changer by:
- Creating free, offline-friendly e-courses for rural students.
- Training teachers in digital pedagogy using low-tech solutions.
- Partnering with NGOs and telecom providers to improve device distribution.
- Launching campaigns on digital safety, AI awareness, and cyber-ethics.
Conclusion: A New Definition of Poverty
In today’s world, being poor means being disconnected.
The digital divide is not just about cables and screens. It’s about opportunity, equity, and voice. Until rural children, women, and farmers are digitally literate and connected, development will remain a myth.
We cannot wait for top-down solutions from the tech elite. We must build our own platforms, teach in our own languages, and train the next generation to become digital creators—not just passive consumers.
Call to Action
🔗 Join the #DigitalJustice campaign with IERS
📘 Download our Digital Literacy Toolkit for Rural Learners
💡 Partner with us to build Digital Classrooms in Sindh
