Bridging the Digital Divide among Students

Digital divide refers to the inequalities between people with effective use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and those with very limited or no use at all. It has been a concern of people in all walks of life and it is more prevalent among academic communities. Developed countries reduce digital divide among students through improved ICT infrastructure. However, the availability of ICT infrastructure does not guarantee equality in use of technology. Usage divide can be seen among students due to differences in their skills as well as the intensity and purpose of their use of ICT. There exist a number of factors including social structure, culture, economic background and skills which may result in digital inequality among students. This paper presents an overview of different factors contributing to the digital divide among students and discusses how to bridge the digital divide.