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Hemant Kumar
Independent Researcher
Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
The advent of widespread online learning platforms and digital educational resources has the potential to democratize education, yet entrenched socioeconomic disparities continue to inhibit equitable access. This study focuses on children from single-parent households, a demographic that often contends with unique financial, temporal, and logistical constraints. By examining both quantitative metrics and qualitative narratives, the research illuminates how factors such as broadband availability, device adequacy, parental digital literacy, and time poverty collectively shape educational outcomes. A survey of 250 single parents across urban, suburban, and rural regions assessed connection types, device inventory, digital support structures, and perceived obstacles to sustained online engagement. Complementary in-depth interviews with 30 participants provided nuanced insights into daily routines, emotional stressors, and adaptive strategies. Findings revealed that 38% of families lack reliable high-speed broadband, 45% share only a single device among school-aged children, and over half of parents self-report low confidence in troubleshooting educational software. Moreover, scheduling conflicts stemming from inflexible work hours force many parents to rely on asynchronous learning or older children as de facto supervisors. Qualitative accounts underscored emotional burdens—parents expressed guilt over inadequate supervision and children reported frustration with unstable connections or device failures. These results highlight how the intersection of family structure and digital inequities exacerbates educational challenges. To mitigate these disparities, the study proposes a multi-pronged intervention framework: subsidized connectivity and device programs tailored to single-parent schedules; community-based digital literacy workshops offered during evenings and weekends; employer partnerships that provide flexible work arrangements.
Keywords
Single-Parent Households, Digital Divide, Online Access, Educational Equity, Digital Literacy
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