Media Education in South Asia: Consequences of Digital Inequalities during the Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions to education worldwide, particularly in South Asia. This chapter explores the impact of the pandemic on media education in South Asia, highlighting the severe digital inequalities that have exacerbated pre-existing educational disparities. Many higher education institutions (HEIs) in the region struggled to transition from traditional classrooms to online platforms due to underdeveloped ICT infrastructure, inadequate digital skills, and limited access to ICT devices and services. While developed countries adapted relatively swiftly, one-third of students in South Asia were unable to pursue remote learning. The chapter posits that these digital inequalities, particularly in the realm of media education, hindered effective learning by restricting access to essential resources, such as multimedia equipment and software. Nevertheless, some institutions perceived the crisis as an opportunity to embrace digital transformation. By concentrating on the distinctive challenges posed to media education during the pandemic, this chapter provides a comparative analysis of the South Asian context, underscoring the necessity for innovative and equitable pedagogical approaches to address the digital divide.