DIGITAL DIVIDE IN TURKISH PRIMARY SCHOOLS: SAKARYA SAMPLE
ABSTRACT
Accessing to information technology and the ability to use it is increasingly becoming part of the toolkit necessary to participate and prosper in an information-based society. Inequalities in ICT access and use not only mirror existing patterns of social stratification, but can also maintain and even widen current disparities between these groups in important indicators of well-being such as academic success and earnings. Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education has been an important concern in many countries. In this sense, the purpose of this research is to assess the digital divide conditions and the affects of digital divide on their level assessment exam (STS) success rank and school grades. This research was carried out in 7 counties including Sakarya city center and 6 counties involving 375 elementary schools in Sakarya city center and 12 counties it has and 7 of them are private elementary schools. Data of the research have been collected via questionnaire prepared by the researcher. It is seen that while most of the students, who ranked in top ten in the Level Assessment Exam (STS), have computer and internet in their homes, those who ranked “last ten” do not have computer and internet in their homes. It may be interpreted as there is a parallel relation between the increase of average grade of students and the increase of having computer and internet connection in their home. When it is examined thoroughly, there is a digital divide between primary school students. It is believed that, this situation goes in parallel with the socio-economic status of the families.