In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments around the world, including Thailand, have implemented "semi-lockdown" measures and social distancing protocols to curb the spread of the virus. This has led to the closure of public places, including universities, to avoid large gatherings. Universities have turned to online learning to enable students to continue their education from home.

However, the transition to online learning is not easy in Thailand, as many students still lack access to computers, including desktops, laptops, and tablets, as well as internet connectivity for online learning at home. This issue predominantly affects low-income families, who are severely impacted by the shift from in-person classes to online formats, even though they stand to benefit the most from human capital development.

The Digital Divide in Thailand

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the major issue for households in Thailand is not just internet access but the lack of computers at home. Compared to other countries, only 21% of households in Thailand have computers, which is significantly lower than the global average of 49% and the average of developing countries at 38%. In contrast, 68% of households in Thailand have internet access, which is higher than the global average of 55% and the average of developing countries at 44% as of 2018.

Access to computers is even more challenging for low-income households. Data from the National Statistical Office shows that in 2017, only 3% of households with an annual income of less than 200,000 baht had internet-connected computers, while 19% of households with an income of 200,000 baht or more had such access. Regionally, Bangkok has a higher proportion of households with computers at 42%, compared to 21% in the central region, 19% in the north, 17% in the south, and 14% in the northeast.

The Digital Divide Will Widen Educational Inequalities Through Online Learning

As the COVID-19 pandemic forces universities to shift to online learning, this digital divide will significantly impact students who lack computers and internet access at home. The transition from classroom learning to online education will leave many students, especially those from low-income families, behind.

According to the Office of the Higher Education Commission, in 2017, nearly 1.9 million students were enrolled in diploma and degree programs at Thai higher education institutions, with an estimated 25% coming from households with an average annual income of less than 200,000 baht.

In normal circumstances before the COVID-19 outbreak, students from low-income families might not have computers or internet access at home, but they could still access these resources at universities or internet cafes. The closure of universities and the shift to online learning have made it impossible for some students to participate in online classes. Interviews with faculty members at some universities revealed that students without computers at home had to gather to use their friends' computers and internet at dormitories, which increases the risk of virus transmission if another outbreak occurs.

Current Support Measures Are Insufficient for Students to Learn Online

Although the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation has issued announcements requesting cooperation from agencies and higher education institutions to implement measures to assist those affected, such as considering reducing fees for the upcoming semester and providing online learning platforms for universities and students, as well as negotiating with internet service providers for special packages for faculty and students, various universities have implemented support measures. For instance, Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University provided internet SIM cards to students, while King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang refunded dormitory fees, and Chiang Mai University allowed students to defer tuition and dormitory payments. Additionally, Sripatum University refunded 15-25% of tuition fees for the second semester of 2019.

These measures may help some students; for example, if all universities provided internet SIM cards to every student, it could increase internet access. However, if students still lack computers, they will not be able to learn online from home. Even if students have smartphones, online learning and writing on smartphones can be challenging.

Therefore, the government should consider providing assistance to students without computers for online learning at home, particularly those from low-income households, who are the most severely affected and urgently need support. Financial aid of 10,000 baht should be allocated to students from low-income households, starting with those who need to borrow from the Student Loan Fund (SLF), which is estimated to include around 500,000 students. Thus, the government would need to allocate approximately 5 billion baht for this purpose.

At the same time, each university should establish committees to assess and provide assistance to students without computers and internet access for online learning to ensure that all students can genuinely access online education. Furthermore, universities should consider partially refunding tuition fees to alleviate the burden on students from low-income families and those negatively impacted by COVID-19.

The digital divide in Thailand has long been a problem that negatively affects low-income households. The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of bridging this digital divide. The government must allocate funds to assist this group of students to enable them to learn online, especially given the expectation that the COVID-19 situation will persist for at least 12-18 months, to prevent leaving certain groups of students behind and exacerbating educational inequalities.

Finally, beyond the challenge of student access to technology for online learning during the COVID-19 situation, universities also face significant challenges in adapting to online teaching and testing to ensure that Thai education continues to effectively develop students' skills, particularly in practical subjects. This mission must be pursued urgently and requires cooperation from various sectors, including education, government, and private sectors, to help Thailand overcome this crisis together.

Dr. Sawaraj Rattanakhamfu

SOURCE: www.tdri.or.th