WOMEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: The Challenges

Abstract

Distance education has the ability to reach anyone anywhere and thus is widely accepted as a method of educating large populations of people in developing countries. The women in particular, are able to reap the benefits distance education has to offer by overcoming many of the barriers faced through conventional methods of learning. The Internet is said to increase access to education, and no doubt the developing world has seen an influx of Internet based distance learning opportunities. Few will argue, this mode of learning can offer unparalleled, up to date educational opportunities and at a reasonable cost to the user. Unfortunately, there exists a huge gender gap in Internet access in developing countries. Will the increase in Internet accessed learning widen the gender disparity in higher education in the developing world? If this gender gap does not change, the women will miss out on quality and affordable learning opportunities.

Keywords

• Distance education
• women in developing countries
• Internet gender gap