Barriers in Promoting e-Learning in Developing Countries: A Case Study on Bangladesh Presented By Muhammad Asif Hossain Khan Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Points to be Discussed What is e-Learning? What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladesh e-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited Use Reasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be Faced Barriers Likely to be Faced Summary Summary

What is e-Learning? A concept of using computers and web technology to teach and to learn. Includes  computer-based learning,  web-based learning,  virtual classrooms etc. Two types  synchronous  asynchronous

Points to be Discussed What is e-Learning? What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladesh e-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited Use Reasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be Faced Barriers Likely to be Faced Summary Summary

e-Learning in Bangladesh By Bangladeshi organizations - NONE.  By Bangladeshi organizations - NONE.  Mainly used in different training programs such as Cisco (CCNA), Oracle (OCP) etc. Mainly used in different training programs such as Cisco (CCNA), Oracle (OCP) etc. Online practices for different aptitude tests like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT are now being popular. Online practices for different aptitude tests like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT are now being popular.

Points to be Discussed What is e-Learning? What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladesh e-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited Use Reasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be Faced Barriers Likely to be Faced Summary Summary

Reasons Behind Limited Use Unawareness of the Benefits Unawareness of the Benefits lack of initiatives of those grasping the concept lack of initiatives of those grasping the concept lack of concept of those making the policies lack of concept of those making the policies Few Internet Users Few Internet Users high access cost high access cost limited bandwidth limited bandwidth improper infrastructure improper infrastructure  small telephone network  absence of alternative means of internet access  low PC density

PC Density in Indian- Subcontinent Fig.: PC Density (per 100 in habitants) in Subcontinent

Tele density in Some Asian Countries

Points to be Discussed What is e-Learning? What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladesh e-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited Use Reasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be Faced Barriers Likely to be Faced Summary Summary

Prospective Areas for e-Learning in Bangladesh Training Programs Training Programs Government officials Government officials Officials from private organizations Officials from private organizations Small organizations having limited work force Small organizations having limited work force Distance Learning Programs Distance Learning Programs Adult Education Adult Education

Training Programs Government officials Government officials BPATC arranges training programs for them BPATC arranges training programs for them About 1200 participate every year About 1200 participate every year Officials from private organizations Officials from private organizations Consultants are hired at high cost Consultants are hired at high cost Off site training programs are arranged Off site training programs are arranged Drawback Drawback Officers either take duty leaves or they have to make time after normal office hours Officers either take duty leaves or they have to make time after normal office hours

Small organizations having limited work force Facts Facts Difficult and expensive to send officers off site Difficult and expensive to send officers off site Disrupts productivity Disrupts productivity Takes away irreplaceable work-hours Takes away irreplaceable work-hours Consequence Consequence Organizations avoid sending employees Organizations avoid sending employees Remedy Remedy Web-based training programs offered through web portals Web-based training programs offered through web portals

Distance Learning Programs Reputed academic institutions are situated around two or three major cities Reputed academic institutions are situated around two or three major cities Consequence Consequence Students from all over the country have to rush to these cities Students from all over the country have to rush to these cities Education becomes expensive Education becomes expensive Many cannot make it Many cannot make it Solution Solution Web-based distant education programs can ensure quality education for everyone Web-based distant education programs can ensure quality education for everyone

Adult Education Financial crisis forces many to give up of education early Financial crisis forces many to give up of education early At later time they wish to continue with what they had left behind At later time they wish to continue with what they had left behind Problem Problem Impossible to attend regular programs Impossible to attend regular programs Difficult to attend programs run after office hours Difficult to attend programs run after office hours Solution Solution Asynchronous web-based degree programs Asynchronous web-based degree programs Can participate at any time convenient for them Can participate at any time convenient for them

Points to be Discussed What is e-Learning? What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladesh e-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited Use Reasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be Faced Barriers Likely to be Faced Summary Summary

Barriers Likely to be Faced Unfamiliarity with PCs Unfamiliarity with PCs Poor English Proficiency Poor English Proficiency Slow Internet Speed Slow Internet Speed Costly Internet Access Costly Internet Access Social and Cultural Issues Social and Cultural Issues Economic Disparity Economic Disparity

Unfamiliarity with PCs Most people are unfamiliar with computers Most people are unfamiliar with computers Reasons Reasons High price of PC High price of PC No use of PC in daily activity whatsoever No use of PC in daily activity whatsoever Consequences Consequences E-learning will be hard to make popular E-learning will be hard to make popular Programs might not be cost effective Programs might not be cost effective

Poor English Proficiency Reasons Reasons Everyone speaks the same language - Bengali Everyone speaks the same language - Bengali Medium of education is mostly Bengali Medium of education is mostly Bengali Consequences Consequences A huge translation job A huge translation job Translation might lead to distortion Translation might lead to distortion

Slow Internet Speed Reason Reason Most people are connected through dialup connections Most people are connected through dialup connections Unavailability of broadband or DSL connections Unavailability of broadband or DSL connections Consequences Consequences Highly interactive multimedia courses will lose interactivity Highly interactive multimedia courses will lose interactivity Courses depended on rich graphics and animation will be received poorly Courses depended on rich graphics and animation will be received poorly Might be impossible to achieve objective Might be impossible to achieve objective

Costly Internet Access Facts Facts Per capita income is less than 500 USD Per capita income is less than 500 USD Internet access cost is at the minimum $1/hour Internet access cost is at the minimum $1/hour Metered charging of internet use Metered charging of internet use Usage is 30% higher in countries with unlettered pricing Usage is 30% higher in countries with unlettered pricing Time spent online is 35% higher Time spent online is 35% higher Consequence Consequence Will incur added cost on e-learning Will incur added cost on e-learning Will limit the benefits that e-learning promises Will limit the benefits that e-learning promises

Social and Cultural Issues Facts Facts Very sensitive regarding religious beliefs Very sensitive regarding religious beliefs Approach of discussion differ from western world Approach of discussion differ from western world Consequences Consequences Already existent contents might not be used without modification Already existent contents might not be used without modification Have to be careful in content development Have to be careful in content development

Economic Disparity Facts Facts The gap between different economic classes is large The gap between different economic classes is large People from different classes posses different mentalities and share different realities People from different classes posses different mentalities and share different realities Consequence Consequence The same topic might require different presentation The same topic might require different presentation

Conclusion Bangladesh very soon is going to be connected with the information super highway. Bangladesh very soon is going to be connected with the information super highway. We hope that this will decrease the cost of Internet access and will increase the Internet access speed. We hope that this will decrease the cost of Internet access and will increase the Internet access speed. Suitable ways has to be found to tackle other barriers pointed out here. Suitable ways has to be found to tackle other barriers pointed out here. We believe that if the launching ground can be prepared, e-Learning will be very popular in Bangladesh within short time. We believe that if the launching ground can be prepared, e-Learning will be very popular in Bangladesh within short time. The massive popularity of Cisco/Oracle Training Programs and huge registration for computer based certificate tests gives that indication. The massive popularity of Cisco/Oracle Training Programs and huge registration for computer based certificate tests gives that indication.

Acknowledgement Thanks to ICTP for giving me the opportunity to come here and participate in this wonderful workshop. Thanks to all of you for being patience.