The phenomenon of ‘Globalization’ is a course of
action that rapidly increasing inter-dependence among people regardless of
their identity, race, colour or religion. In congruence with International Monetary
fund, ‘Globalization is characterized by increase in flow of trade, capital and
information as well as mobility of individuals across borders’. Despite this
globalization is enriching global markets, ideas, technologies and cohesion as
well as lives of people around the globe, the confronting situation is to assure
that the distribution of benefits among
people is equitable. Also, the increasing advancement and inter-dependence must
be people friendly and not just for pecuniary benefits. Human Development
Report (2013) made globalization solely responsible for the dynamic and radical
shift in the economic world order. The southern part of the world is pacing out
of poverty unprecendently difficult to find in human history. Globalization
provided the world with propitious opportunities through cutting edge
technology and communication but it has to be directed in such a way that all
humankind can make the most of this blessing. To keep this in view, Human
Development Report (2013) also commends a course of action that includes restoring
governance around the globe to ascertain equity.
Digital education is the sole technique through
which we can achieve the goal of Education for All provided that the digital
divide must be eliminated from Pakistan. Now the nighest challenge is to make
Pakistani society a knowledge society as early as feasible. Knowledge society
is a community where generating, communicating and exercising knowledge are the
fundamental components responsible for the success and holistic well-being of
its people. As compared to the earlier societies such as ‘cultural’ and
‘industrial’, knowledge societies are much more than land, labour and money.
These societies have knowledge as a key element to generate wealth and make
living standards better for people. Therefore, the notion of knowledge society is
escalating fast. Knowledge about truth, principles, laws, capabilities, economy,
management and workers of numerous aspects of knowledge of knowledge society. To
make any country a knowledge society, science and technology enable countries to
cover goals of economic advancement, social
sciences and environment form a reticular veins of a knowledge society.
Pakistan is not an exception to that. In
Pakistan, the knowledge explosion must help the eradication of poverty and be
in instrument to achieve social justice. Like any permissive society, Pakistan
should also have shared morality for its peaceful existence. That shared morality
should be protected and promoted by education only.
The emergence of informational technology and access
to social media, advanced telecommunication systems, audio visual technology
and multimedia have led to a new
possibilities of collection, development, organization and dissemination
of information. Digital resources offer one such possibility and posses an
advantage over traditional source with respect to access to information. One of
the greatest benefits of digital resources is that, users can access the resources
themselves from their desktops. Approximately,
two million Pakistanis possessing computers, most of them have internet accounts;
hence the environment is set up the quantum leap in taking advantage of the
information technology. The information and communication revolution has
converted the world into a small village. At the same time, it poses a serious
challenge to the existing and established institutions, practices and law in
all the countries. Pakistan is on the verge of IT revolution, IT infrastructure
is rapidly building up in the country. In five years PC population is going to
increase 10 times. However, in the field of education, Pakistan’s performance
has been failing to achieve the post-modern development plan. This digital
divide creates an imbalance that requires immediate correction.
If there has been a single development that altered
the entire digital age, it is the onset of Internet. Although urban Pakistani
society has access to computer but English language of Windows and Internet left
millions of Pakistani deprived from the recent IT revolution. To remedy this
situation and spread Internet to wider users as a useful instrument, decision
makers will recognize the difference between the requirement of commercial user
and domestic user. If we genuinely want
to eliminate the digital divide exist in Pakistani society, the language of the
Internet has to be replaced by the language that can accommodate wider users
from both urban and rural areas. Simultaneously, content of the Internet must
facilitate education for children and adults who need to be acquainted with not
only basic reading, writing and numeracy
skills but also the challenges of learning computers functions. Clearly, making
Pakistani society a computer savvy society is a challenge but it is definitely
a challenge worth accepting.
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