Education Minister Dipu Moni stating that all educational institutions will have internet access soon is a much appreciated and welcome statement from the authorities, one we feel is a long time coming.
There is no denying that in the year 2022, the internet is as close to a basic need as one can imagine. This is particularly true for our schools, colleges, and universities, where it is near-impossible in this day and age to have a meaningful education without the internet.
Ever since the current regime’s proclamation of creating a “Digital Bangladesh” about a decade and a half ago, there has been an emphasis on internet penetration, which has indeed seen incredible and exponential growth throughout the nation.
Having said that, the lack of reliable internet in several parts of the country also informs us of the phenomenon that is the digital divide, which, as a result of being deprived of technology such as the internet, increases inequality.
What we can now hope is that all relevant stakeholders take to heart the education minister’s words and that these ambitious plans do not remain empty promises; only when we see concrete action to turn these plans into reality will Bangladesh reap the benefits.
As Bangladesh enters the most crucial period of its history as a nation, with the desire for middle-income and high-income status over the next two decades, how our children learn will be fundamental to whether we are able to achieve our goals. To that end, fast, reliable internet across our educational institutions is a prerequisite, and must be ensured as soon as possible.
