Vol.: 03 Issue: 01: The Digitalization Initiatives of Army-Operated Educational Institutions on The Educational Landscape of Chattogram Hill Tracts Amid Post COVID-19Era: An Evaluation

Md Quamrul Hassan Khan:

MPhil Researcher, Bangladesh University of Professional, E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords

Digitization, Digital Disparity, Remote Learning, Inaccessible Network, Mental Health, Social Safety Net, Restoration Period, Transformative Change

JEL Classification:

I2, P36, O3

Abstract

The COVID-19pandemic exacerbated vulnerabilities in the education sector of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT), prompting a search for new approaches to easy educational access. Traditionally, mainstream e-learning faced resistance due to perceived connectivity luxuries. Despite this, with the support from government agencies and volunteers, CHT innovatively responded. The Army-run educational institutions invested in infrastructure by enhancing internet connectivity, narrowing digital gaps, and prioritizing teachers' development for effective online education. The study aims to understand the potential of digitalization amidst diverse challenges faced in the region. Through an extensive literature review, this qualitative research seeks to explore the landscape of digital transformation initiatives, with a specific focus on Army-operated institutions in CHT. The Primary data is collected through interviews (KII), questionnaires, and personal observations, supplemented by secondary data from articles, journals, books, websites, and interview questionnaires from various stakeholders with a sample size of 15 educational institution heads of CHT. The paper discusses Armyoperated institutions' digital transformation in CHT, concluding with recommendations for sustained policy reforms, advocating for a specific IT policy to bridge technological gaps, and emphasizing continuous reforms for adaptable remote learning alternatives in traditional classrooms.