Potential of Online Education in Developing Countries
While traveling through rural Mexico recently I couldn't help but wonder why the potential for online education, both academic and vocational training, is not being realized in developing countries. Browsing the Mexico Channel under Education their page of Online Courses contains no listings. While the use of technology is high among the youth with cell phones and text messaging popular in urban areas the digital revolution is still slow to make much progress in rural Mexico. With vital issues such as basic education, clean drinking water and available health care for the poor taking such a large portion of government budgets it is hard for developing countries to allocate needed funds for technology. The Gates Foundation Global Libraries Initiative must expand from awarding recipient grants for specific communities to using their leverage to help fund region wide online initiatives. Their grants do wonders for communities like Veracruz, Mexico (see the article at http://www.gatesfoundation.org/atla/Pages/2008-vasconcelos-program.aspx ) but let us hope for a future where all of rural Mexico can enjoy the benefits of online technology and without finanical help from the developed world the digital divide will online grow wider.