Impact of Covid-19 on the use of ICT in education in Ecuador: A comparative theoretical analysis

This article aims to analyze the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on early and basic education in Ecuador before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic literature review was conducted under the PRISMA 2020 model, including searches in academic databases and repositories, which initially identified 112 documents, of which 23 met the inclusion criteria. The findings show that before 2020, ICT integration was unequal and mainly constrained by infrastructure and teacher training; during the pandemic, their use increased significantly as an emergency response to ensure educational continuity, with an expansion of digital platforms and teacher training, although with strong disparities between urban and rural areas; in the post-pandemic stage, ICT consolidated as essential tools for hybrid and flexible education, despite persistent equity challenges. In conclusion, the pandemic accelerated an irreversible change in the Ecuadorian educational system, positioning ICT as central to quality improvement, while also highlighting the urgent need for sustainable public policies to reduce the digital divide and guarantee equitable access to these technologies