City-rural divide hits computer literacy

The Sydney Morning Herald published this article earlier this year reporting on recent figures regarding the digital literacy levels of Australian students.

The most prominent (and relevant) finding of the study (conducted by The Australian Council for Educational Research) found that "the percentage of year 6 students attaining a proficient standard was 61 per cent in metropolitan areas, 48 per cent in rural areas and 38 per cent in remote regions".

This figure highlights the fact that the digital divide is still a significant obstacle for education in Australia. The report found that, overall, digital literacy levels had improved Australia wide since 2005. However, the fact that students in rural and remote areas are still performing at a lower level than their urban peers shows that measures need to be taken to try and narrow the significant gap in digital literacy levels that currently exist.

The article recognises the importance of this area of education, especially in providing students with vital skills for their future workplaces. The ubiquitous use of ICT in Australia's modern workplaces means that students will need to have proficient computer skills to survive in the modern workforce.