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Cited by 18Educational Innovations and TechnologyEducation during COVID-19 pandemicICT in Developing Communities

Double burden: Exploring the digital divide in the Burmese educational system following the 2021 coup d’ etat and the COVID-19 pandemic

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Nanthakorn, Bob, Ractham, Peter, Kaewkitipong, Laddawan·2023·Computers in Human Behavior Reports
DOI 10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100310PMC PMC10263220
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Abstract

The 2021 military coup d'état in Myanmar and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic commencing at the end of 2019 have had major impacts on the already existing digital divide in this Southeast Asian country. This paper aims to explore the effects of these two events on the digital divide and their consequences on the learning practices of students in Myanmar. Following a broad review of relevant literature, primary data were collected from students in Myanmar about their use of IT for online learning and the outcomes. The raw data resulting from this field research has been shared with stakeholders who analyzed, evaluated, and commented on it during expert interviews. The main findings are: IT usage for online education among students in Myanmar is a matter of major concern. A majority of students nationwide have no access to computers. The IT skill level in the country corresponds to this finding and is only on an average level. Smartphones are more accessible but are often old or of lower quality. Internet connections are available but are vulnerable to disruptions initiated by the military regime. Therefore, it can be concluded that students in Myanmar in many cases did not have the technical equipment or skills necessary to learn effectively through the usage of IT during the national crises. Nevertheless, it can be stated that IT helped and was also supportive in sustaining and improving the well-being of students in Myanmar.

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  • Myanmar higher education has weathered substantial disruption since 2021, including extended closures, displacement of students and faculty, and a growing mix of alternative and online providers.

    “Myanmar higher education has weathered substantial disruption since 2021, including extended closures, displacement of students and faculty, and a growing mix of alternative and online providers operating alongside traditional institutions (Htut et al., 2022;Nanthakorn et al., 2023).”

    From Convenience Amid Crisis: Explaining Generative AI Misuse and Compliance Intention Among Myanmar University Students (2026) · cites this paper as Nanthakorn et al., 2023

    The Introduction and literature review describe major educational disruption after the 2021 coup, temporary school closures, families fleeing their villages, and increased demand for online learning. They do not establish extended higher-education closures, displacement specifically of students and faculty, or a growing mix of alternative and online providers alongside traditional institutions. The passages have section labels but no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Nanthakorn, B., Ractham, P., & Kaewkitipong, L.
Affiliations
Thammasat University (TH)
Corresponding author
Kaewkitipong, Laddawan
ORCID
Venue
Computers in Human Behavior Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-08
Volume
11
Pages
100310
ISSN
2451-9588 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100310
PMC
PMC10263220
OpenAlex
W4380987243
Cited by
18
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2
FWCI
3.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Computers in Human Behavior Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Educational Innovations and Technology
  • Social Sciences › Education › Education during COVID-19 pandemic
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
Keywords
digital divide, 2021 Myanmar military coup, COVID-19 pandemic, online learning, computer access, digital skills, internet access, educational technology, student well-being

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