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How COVID-19 Advanced Digital Learning for Lower-Income Populations

SDGs Impacted

BCG worked closely with three state governments in India to develop and implement a digital home-schooling program for K-12 students. The initiative revealed significant and persistent challenges for students in households without internet connections, computers, or tablets. But it also offered an intriguing glimpse of the potential for advancing digital education in developing countries - in particular, the possibility of using smartphones as a foundational and low-cost remote learning delivery system.

Impact / Outcome
Despite the technical, economic, and social challenges, there was notable enthusiasm for the digital lessons, especially among those students with smartphone access—and signs of rapid behavioral change, in terms of students’ willingness to adapt to new learning routines and technology, in just in the span of a few weeks.
Funding sources
Government or other public organization
Key Metrics
Adaptation to new learning routines and technology; Remote access to learning technology
Locations
India & South Asia, India
Sector
Education
Intervention lever
Direct government
Operating model
Public-private partnership
Target populations
Children, Youth
Year published
03 March 2021

The EDISON Alliance

A World Economic Forum Initiative