Distance learning and its effectiveness in improving literacy, education and skills development for remote population and for overcoming the challenges of COVID 19

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of distance learning in improving literacy, education, and skills development for remote and isolated population and for overcoming the challenges of COVID 19. The study is based on theoretical multiple regression model, and partial derivatives for evaluating the effects of each of the explanatory variables. The theoretical results and findings suggest that distance learning can effectively improve literacy, education, and skills development in remote and isolated areas of the country, especially during the threats of pandemic COVID 19. Improving literacy, education and skills development can virtually transform unskilled labor force into skilled, smart, and intelligent labor force and thus can effectively increase the productive capacity of the economy. The findings also reveal that the state-of-the-art communication technology, uninterrupted internet and satellite services, income support for the learners, nationwide recognition of distance learning programs can effectively increase the popularity of distance learning and therefore, distance learning can reshape the education system, skills development and literacy and can place the economy on the fast track for sustainable economic growth. Distance learning can speed up the process of skills development, especially for pre-employment training programs for discouraged workers in remote areas and thus can improve the employability skills for the unemployed youths and adults. This study is one of the latest attempts which reveals that distance education can truly speed up the quality of education and skills development and the speed can continue unabated even during the challenges of COVID 19.