How AI and COVID are Enlarging the Education Gap in Hong Kong

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and transformative effect on nearly every facet of human life, and education is no exception. Education as we know it has had to adapt on a global scale, with an unprecedented shift from traditional face-to-face classrooms to online learning environments.

In Hong Kong, these changes have been felt profoundly. The shift to online learning precipitated by the global health crisis, together with the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the education sector, is magnifying existing educational inequalities, creating a significant education gap that threatens to leave many students behind.

Understanding the digital divide that is widening the education gap requires an appreciation of the context. Online learning, though it offers numerous advantages such as flexibility and the ability to scale, is heavily dependent on consistent access to the internet and suitable digital devices. In an ideal world, all students would have access to these resources. However, the reality in Hong Kong is different. Not all students have this privilege, and this disparity in digital access is exacerbating the education gap as students without the necessary digital resources struggle to keep up with their peers who do.

Artificial Intelligence, with its potential for personalization and adaptivity, has been hailed as a potential equalizer in this scenario. Theoretically, AI can offer personalized learning experiences that adapt to students' individual needs, thereby levelling the playing field. It can provide additional support to students who are struggling, offer enrichment activities to those who are ahead, and provide a custom learning pathway for each student.

However, the reality is far from this ideal. The benefits of AI in education are primarily reaped by those with the resources to access and utilize AI technologies, leaving those without access further behind. Consequently, the digital divide is not merely sustained but potentially magnified by the introduction of AI into education.

So, how to make a change?

Altering the current situation necessitates concerted efforts to achieve a more inclusive and equitable deployment of AI in education. This involves a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, initiatives should be introduced that focus on providing all students with access to the necessary digital resources. Affordable internet services and digital devices should be made available to all, regardless of their socio-economic status. This could be accomplished through government programs or partnerships with tech companies aiming to increase digital inclusivity.

Secondly, educators and AI developers should collaborate to create AI tools that are universally accessible and beneficial. This means developing AI systems that can cater to the needs of a diverse student population, including those who may not have the resources to access advanced AI technologies. Such collaboration could involve workshops and training sessions where educators voice the specific needs of their students, and developers consider these while designing the AI tools.

Finally, community engagement is crucial. Parents, students, and local communities should be involved in discussions and actions about how AI is used in education, ensuring that their concerns and suggestions are taken into account in the decision-making process. Everyone should have a chance to know what it AI and how to implement it to foster education.

In this way, we can work towards turning the tide, using AI not as a tool to widen the education gap, but rather as one that can reduce it. This is undoubtedly a challenging task, but with a coordinated approach that involves all stakeholders - from students and educators to developers and policymakers - it is a feasible goal.