1

2 ICT and Connectivity Source: World Bank, quoted in OECD/CERI 2000 Computers and Internet hosts per inhabitants in the different world regions:

3 The Digital Divide Africa:11% world population 2% world trade (1% excluding oil) 30 African countries:Less than one telephone line per 100 people IMF, UN, World Bank, OECD : A Better World for All July 2000 G8 Nations Dot (Digital Opportunity Task) Force Task Force for Education (SE Europe Stability Pact)

4 Mexican Telesecundaria Not necessarily state-of-the-art technology Adopted by other countries Suitability qualified tutors and persuaders US Adult Learners New confidence to unemployed

5 Students per Computer in Upper Secondary Education (1988) Source: Education Policy Analysis, OECD/CERI, 2001 (in preparation) The relative disadvantage - maintained or even expanded

6 Inequity Within the Population Home access to the internet by gross income decile group in the UK: & Source: Education Policy Analysis, OECD/CERI, 2001 (in preparation)

7 Disadvantaged Groups Women in many societies Intergenerational gaps Workplace with/without ICT In short, many divides

8 Learning to Bridge the Digital Divide

9 Matching Learning Opportunities to People

10 Useful Learning Initiatives Public kiosks Turkey, Malaysia, Korea (games to serious study) Costa RicoRefurbished cargo container, & Malaysia LINCOStrained community member Mexican distanceFarmers, mothers, parents, Learningyoungsters, adult basic skills Distance learning to disseminate skills from the few to the many

11 Teacher Importance

12 Bonuses from ICT Literacy Overcoming the structural weaknesses within society

13 Priority concerns, as a country seeks to exploit ICT in the search for a more equitable society, that is socially and economically at ease in the modern world: Equipment available to allkiosks, schools open to the community for extended hours; low-cost on-line facilities Teachers empoweredappropriate pedagogical and technical skills; curriculum matched to perceived need and what ICT makes possible; assessment and qualifications in harmony; Partnerships encouragededucational suppliers and users, policy makers, the workplace, the community, the home, the individual learner.

14 Achievable outcomes, from the wise adoption of ICT: A more inclusive society that is economically flourishing with mutual respect between its different communities and interest groups An enhanced democratic process whereby the individual is in closer contact with the system and better able to influence it. In short ICT has a world-scale potential to help in enhancing a more equitable quality of life for all.