Exploring the Equity of Urban and Rural Education in the Context of Informatization
Abstract
Education informatization is of great significance in promoting urban-rural education equity and is highly expected by academics and policymakers. However, without proper planning, it may exacerbate disparities instead of bridging them. This study examines how information technology can enhance urban-rural education equity, its impact on education quality, and effective strategies to narrow the gap. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines literature review, case studies, and questionnaire surveys targeting educators, students, and parents in regions with significant urban-rural disparities. The results of the study show that the informatization reform has promoted the sharing of educational resources between urban and rural areas to a certain extent, but the actual effect is constrained by a number of factors, and greater efforts are needed in terms of technology popularization, policy support and social resource inputs in order to achieve real equity in urban and rural education.
References
- Guo, X. (2020). Research on the impact of education informatization on the cognitive ability gap between urban and rural students (Master’s thesis, Central China Normal University).
- Aguilar, S. J. (2020). Guidelines and tools for promoting digital equity. Information and Learning Sciences, 121(5/6), 285–299.
- Guillén-Gámez, F. D., Colomo-Magaña, E., Ruiz-Palmero, J., & Tomczyk, Ł. (2023). The digital competence of the rural teacher of primary education in the mentoring process: A study by teaching speciality and gender. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning. Advance online publication.
- Aguliera, E., & Nightengale-Lee, B. (2020). Emergency remote teaching across urban and rural contexts: Perspectives on educational equity. Information and Learning Sciences, 121(5/6), 471–478.
- Yan, C., & Wan, S. (2024). An empirical study on the integrated development of urban and rural compulsory education in China: Based on the perspective of educational resource allocation. Statistics and Management, (11), 53–64.
- State Council. (2015, November 28). Notice on further improving the mechanism for guaranteeing urban and rural compulsory education funding: Guo Fa [2015] No. 67 [A/OL]. Retrieved October 1, 2023, from http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2015-11/28/content_10357.htm
- Amini, C., & Nivorozhkin, E. (2015). The urban–rural divide in educational outcomes: Evidence from Russia. International Journal of Educational Development, 44, 118–133.
- Wu, J. (2024). Exploring the causes and bridging path of “digital divide” in urban and rural compulsory education under the background of quality balance. Basic Education Research, (17), 1–4.
- Lane, J. C., Shen, A. H., Williams, R., et al. (2022). If you can see it, you can be it: Perceptions of diversity in surgery among under-represented minority high school students. Journal of Surgical Education, 79(4), 950–956.
- Zhang, Y. (2018). Research on countermeasures to promote the integrated development of urban and rural compulsory education. Education Exploration, (02), 110–116.
- Yu, S. (2019). Construction and implementation path of smart education ecosystem. Open Education Research, 25(1), 13–20.