Online Education Promotes Equity in Access and Outcomes in Higher Education

Online Education Promotes Equity in Access and Outcomes in Higher Education
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Online Education Promotes Equity in Access and Outcomes in Higher Education
Many colleges and universities have adopted online education to promote distance learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online education or virtual learning refers to a flexible system of instructional delivery that comprises different types of learning that occur through the Internet. In particular, the web has revolutionized learning and online courses are offered by various institutions of higher education. Many students prefer online education due to its cost-effectiveness and flexibility. For instance, they can learn while still working without spending money on accommodation and transport to and from school. The paper focuses on whether online education promotes equity in access and outcomes in higher education institutions.
Online education promotes equity in access. Specifically, it fosters accessibility, increasing engagement, equity, and effective learning (Baldwin & Ching, 2021). The most significant thing about online education is that students do not have to attend physical classes. They are only required to have electronic devices and proper access to the Internet. Higher education institutions come up with flexible learning schedules and inform learners so that they can prepare themselves. Besides, many colleges and universities have online libraries where students can access learning materials remotely. If the resources are not provided by the school, learners are guided on where they can obtain them by paying a small fee. A few decades ago, a significant proportion of students were unable to join institutions of higher education due to high transport and accommodation charges (Ainscow, 2020). Millions of bright learners from underdeveloped countries did not enroll in colleges and universities of their choice without being given financial assistance. Even though they were awarded scholarships for tuition, it was challenging for them to travel abroad and get accommodation. However, online learning has made education more equitable and inclusive (Ainscow, 2020). Students from different parts of the world can access online courses they have registered for regardless of their geographical location.
The COVID-19 pandemic fueled many educational institutions around the world to engage in various forms of online learning. Notably, numerous governments implemented strict measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus, such as social distancing and stay-at-home, which made schools close indefinitely. The best thing was that the majority of higher education institutions tried to reach out to students through the Internet. They assigned them academic activities to engage them while at home and facilitate learning. Among OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)-participating nations, about 85% provided online learning opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic (Vegas, 2020). Some schools went to an extent of offering educational tasks through television and radio in combination with Internet learning. Figure 1 below shows h...