The Impact of Accessing Education via Smartphone Technology on Education Disparity—A Sustainable Education Perspective

Abstract

Following the fourth target of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education disparity is one of the graver concerns delaying substantial economic development, especially in emerging market-based nations. Despite numerous efforts to address this disparity, it has been a long-standing concern for many communities. It is important to note that the recent pandemic has changed teaching and learning approaches worldwide, where disparity is one of the most challenging issues. Although similar and/or equal access to technology has always been challenging, online learning practices were widely implemented with varying levels of success during the pandemic. Using purposive sampling on administrative data between 2020 and 2022 on undergraduate programs in public universities in Bangladesh, this study examines the effects of technology access on academic achievement. This study employs the difference in differences (DID) technique to analyze the data and finds that access to technology improves students’ learning. Findings strongly suggest that technology access reduces disparity, mainly due to socioeconomic status (SES). Findings also imply that ensuring access to technology for individuals from poorer SES backgrounds should be prioritized to address education inequality-related challenges.

Whether Socioeconomic Status Matters in Accessing Residential College: Role of RC in Addressing Academic Achievement Gaps to Ensure Sustainable Education

“…The initial section encompasses personal profiles, capturing seven factors, including gender, ethnicity, family district, schooling year, major, name, and matric number. Consistent with established literature on the economics of education, academic achievement is assessed using the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) on a 4.0 scale [8]. To ensure data accuracy, the respondents' names and matric numbers are identified, facilitating the collection of secondary data on precise CGPA from academic records at the sample universities.…”

“…The concept of sustainable education extends beyond the pursuit of educational quality; it is a multifaceted instrument. Sustainable education encompasses diverse programs, strategies, and institutional frameworks aimed at contributing to national progress equitably [8]. The issue of education disparities has a long history [69,70].…”

“…The issue of education disparities has a long history [69,70]. Despite numerous efforts to address these inequalities, it remains a fundamental challenge in achieving sustainable development in education [8]. In the Chinese context, RCs represent an innovative approach to nurturing talent among students from diverse SES backgrounds.…”

“…Tertiary education has played a crucial role in driving national economic growth, not just through teaching and research but also via societal engagement, governance policies, and collaborative initiatives among universities [6,7]. However, persistent challenges hinder international efforts to ensure sustainable education [8], with disparities in socioeconomic status (SES) stemming from individuals' family backgrounds posing a notable obstacle [9].…”

Do Chinese Residential Colleges Narrow the Education Disparity Caused by Socioeconomic Status? A Comparison of Public and Private Universities Using Two Main Approaches to Assess Disparities in Access and Academic Attainment

“…Against this backdrop, residential colleges (RCs) have emerged over time with the aim of providing students with an inclusive environment and holistic experience beyond conventional classrooms, addressing equity and quality issues in HE [13,14]. In tandem with the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) devised by the United Nations [15], which focuses on promoting education equality and quality, this involves implementing programs and institutional frameworks that advance national development in an unbiased way [16]. As claimed by Bryk and Schneider [17], students in schools with healthy environments outperform their peers academically on the basis of SES background.…”