Rural communities remain isolated from the outside world because they have limited means of electronic information dissemination.
If such access were provided, it could somewhat improve their connection to the ever-changing world.
There are reasons why this Internet access is uncommon in rural areas. These include the lack of adequate infrastructure to house and power, another reason is the cost of implementation and maintenance.
Although the cost of providing ICT to these rural residents is high, the long-term results are very beneficial to all stakeholders. Especially if the processes that ensure the continuity of maintaining Internet access are put in place.
So how does access, or lack of access, affect children?
- Lack of Internet access limits children’s ability to learn outside of the classroom.
- They lag behind their peers in first-world countries who have access to the Internet from an early age and thus have a relative level of knowledge that sets them apart.
- The lack of Internet access leaves them in the dark about new career paths that would be better suited to their innate abilities.
- The lack of Internet access deprives them of the ability to navigate and compete in the modern world, depriving them of their future.
This problem requires effective solutions to level the playing field for children, and it is up to leaders to bring about these changes.