Equitable Use of ICT in Education: Issues and Concerns

Abstract

ICT at present is impelling every aspect of human life. They are playing pivot roles in 
work places, business, education and entertainment. Moreover, many people recognize ICTs as 
facilitator for change, in working conditions, handling and exchanging information, teaching 
methods, learning approaches, scientific research and in accessing information communication 
technologies. In this digital era, the equitable use of ICT plays a pivotal role for providing 
teachers and students opportunities to learn and apply the latest techniques required in 21st 
century skills. Pre-service and in-service teachers as well as students need to know to a 
reasonable extent about the issues and concerns in the use of ICT for education. As teachers or 
potential teachers and students, they need to be above reproach. Teachers and students should 
understand the basic issues i.e. effectiveness, cost, equity and sustainability as well as the 
challenges i.e. infrastructure related challenges, capacity building challenges, challenges 
related to financing the cost of ICT use surroundings the use of ICT in education and then apply 
those issues as principle in practice. It was observed that equity has to do with the fact that 
quality education is provided to students through adequate provisions and equitable distribution 
of ICT facilities and resources to teachers and students, provisions of training services, equitable 
provision of electricity, internet and web services in schools in urban and rural areas through 
accessible roads. ICT improves teaching and learning and its importance for teachers in 
performing their role of creators of pedagogical environments. ICT makes a teacher efficient to 
present his teaching interestingly and able to learn the learners at any level of educational 
programmes. Today in India, teaching training programmes making useful and interesting by the 
term ICT. Infact, ICTs exemplified by the internet and interactive multimedia are obviously an 
important focus for future education and needs to be effectively integrated into formal teaching 
and learning especially in teacher education institutions.