Role of distance education in global development - Challenges and opportunities for developing countries

The digital revolution, powered by the engines of information and communication technologies (ICT), has fundamentally changed the way people think, behave, communicate, work and earn their livelihood, It has restructured the means by which the world conducts economic and business activities and runs governments, Moreover, it has formed new ways to create knowledge, educate people and disseminate information. Paradoxically, while the digital revolution has eliminated the physical boundaries of the global village, the vast majority of the world remains detached from this unfolding phenomenon. With the ever-widening abyss between knowledge and ignorance, the development gap between the rich and the poor among and within countries has also increased. Modem distance education, assisted with ICT tools, offers great advantages concerning access, cost and quality of education. Developing countries can fully leverage such advantages to face the challenges of an emerging information society if appropriate policies are implemented, best practices are followed, and international collaborations are in place, Indeed, utilizing the ICT-accelerated fast lane to achievement, especially in the area of education, may be imperative if the world is to bridge the digital divide.