ITU-T Recommendations

Recommendation ITU-T Y.4234/F.742.3 includes a concept of e-learning in remote classrooms, i.e. places where information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and e-learning facilities, such as digital connectivity, computers, computer applications, virtual collaboration, online and digital educational catalogues, are made available for learners to educate themselves.
There is a wide and rising disparity in access to quality education between remote and rural areas in most countries when compared to their urban counterparts. Various international organizations (e.g. the United Nations (UN) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)) and national bodies (such as ministries) worldwide have acknowledged the need for urgent and concerted efforts towards the fulfilment of the promise of universalization of education.
It is also very clear that the future of education is digital and immersive, and that the delivery of future education will be heavily dependent on access to appropriate (ICT) infrastructure and connectivity.
At the same time, there is a dire shortage of trained teaching staff, in both developed and developing countries, and the situation is much worse in the remote and underserved areas. In most of these places, there are very few teachers, only some of whom are capable of keeping pace with the demands of fast-evolving educational curriculums. In addition to education and learning, these remote areas are disadvantaged by a lack of access to other facilities, such as health and vocational capability development. New standards are required that bridge the digital divide and mitigate the growing disparity, by ensuring that more and more online services are delivered equitably to the remote and underserved areas.
This Recommendation describes the challenges and considerations for providing digital education to remote schools, and develops requirements, capabilities and deployment models to impart high quality e-learning services in remote classrooms in rural and remote areas.