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Digital literacy: a foreign language for students from rural areas in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Winiswa Mavutha

    (Durban University of Technology)

  • Tshepo Mabotja

    (Vaal University of Technology)

Abstract

The Digital literacy has become an imperative part of higher education, since the Covid19 outbreak, traditional institutions had to adapt digital learning techniques. However, students from rural schools were left in the dark. Since there are still some extremely poor schools in the rural parts of South Africa, where there is still no access to electricity. Therefore, the ability to use any digital tools remains a huge challenge for such students. The transition from a rural school to an urban higher education institution that is very tech savvy and living in the 4th industrial revolution is extensively difficult. Subsequently, the success of students from rural schools gets hindered. However, this doesn’t necessary mean that these students are incapable of succeeding in their respective programs. This paper aims to explore the challenges faced by students from rural schools regarding digital literacy. The research methodology will be a quantitative approach, the sample will be drawn from students in traditional universities who are coming from rural high schools. The findings of this paper will be used to recommend ways of increasing the success rate of learners from rural schools in digital literacy and skills development for traditional universities in South Africa. Key Words:Digital Literacy, Inclusive Education, Student Succes, South African Higher Education

Suggested Citation

  • Winiswa Mavutha & Tshepo Mabotja, 2024. "Digital literacy: a foreign language for students from rural areas in South Africa," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 13(5), pages 784-793, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:13:y:2024:i:5:p:784-793
    DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v13i5.3315
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Hughes, D. Laurie & Coombs, Crispin & Constantiou, Ioanna & Duan, Yanqing & Edwards, John S. & Gupta, Babita & Lal, Banita & Misra, Santosh & Prashant, Prakhar & Raman, Ramakrishn, 2020. "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    2. Marco Antonio Zamora-Antuñano & Juvenal Rodríguez-Reséndiz & Leticia Rodriguez Segura & Miguel Ángel Cruz Pérez & José Antonio Altamirano Corro & Wilfrido J. Paredes-Garcia & Hugo Rodríguez-Reséndiz, 2021. "Analysis of Emergency Remote Education in COVID-19 Crisis Focused on the Perception of the Teachers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
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