CURBING DIGITAL DIVIDE IN EDUCATION THROUGH LEVERAGING ACCESS TO DIGITAL LEARNING IN MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES IN CHRIS HANI WEST

Beauty Zindi
Additional contact information
Beauty Zindi: Faculty of Management and Public Administration Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa

Social Sciences and Education Research Review, 2026, vol. 13, issue 1, 296-303

Abstract: The digital divide remains a persistent challenge in South Africa’s education system, disproportionately affecting learners in rural and marginalised communities. This article examines strategies for curbing the digital divide through leveraging access to digital learning in Chris Hani West, a predominantly rural district in the Eastern Cape Province. The study explores key barriers to digital inclusion, including limited access to digital devices, high costs of internet connectivity, inadequate ICT infrastructure, language and accessibility constraints, and weak policy implementation at school and district levels. Drawing on a qualitative desktop-based review of academic literature, government reports, and relevant case studies, the article analyses how these challenges constrain equitable access to digital learning opportunities. The study further highlights the socio-economic and cultural factors that shape digital adoption and usage among learners and households in marginalised communities. The findings underscore the need for coordinated context-sensitive interventions such as affordable connectivity solutions, device provisioning programmes, infrastructure investment, multilingual and accessible digital content, and stronger institutional support for ICT integration in education. The article concludes that leveraging digital learning effectively in Chris Hani West requires not only technological solutions, but also inclusive policies and sustainable partnerships aimed at promoting equity, digital literacy, and long-term educational transformation.

Keywords: digital divide; digital inclusion; digital learning; Chris Hani West; education; marginalised communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://sserr.ro/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sserr-13-1-296-303.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:edt:jsserr:v:13:y:2026:i:1:p:296-303

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21036225

Access Statistics for this article

Social Sciences and Education Research Review is currently edited by Stefan Vladutescu

More articles in Social Sciences and Education Research Review from Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dan Valeriu Voinea ().