Speech

Remarks of the Residence Coordinator at the Extended National Consultation on Digital Divide Mapping Study

19 February 2021

Remarks of Resident Coordinator Thailand for the Extended National Consultation on Digital Divide Mapping Study (Virtual)

  • I am very pleased to join you today in the national consultation on the Mapping of Digital Divide led by ITU together with UNICEF and UNESCO in close partnership with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, NBTC and NSO.
  • This work is incredibly important, especially in the context of the new normal, and sharing the key findings today allows us to explore how to strengthen e-learning in Thailand.
  • You may recall that immediately after the initial consultation in mid-December, the second outbreak happened. It resulted in schools’ closings across 28 Provinces and for varied lengths of time.
  • This is a timely reaffirmation of how critical it is to ensure that no school, community, or student is left behind in accessing education.
  • We know that e-learning is the new normal, going forward. We need to level the playing field in providing our children with a quality and accessible education.
  • Concurrently, bridging the digital divide is also critical for breaking new frontiers to position Thailand on the pathway of leading the digital transformation for Thailand 4.0.
  • Digitalization, and automation through artificial intelligence and big data analytics will need to be utilized to adapt and transform Thailand’s economy to advanced levels of development. 
  • We know that in Thailand there is a shortage of technology graduates, which is a binding constraint to equitable growth.
  • We have an opportunity through this mapping to understand how best we can mobilise the system to bridge the digital divide for future generations by addressing the gaps. This is critical for LNOB and the attainment of the SDGs.
  • Digitization is identified as a key driver for equality in UN’s common country assessment and will feature as a strategic priority across the UN’s Cooperation Framework, which we will develop in partnership with the government this year.
  • I personally am championing e-learning, fit for purpose digital solutions for small farmers, and digital inclusion of the elderly.  
  • Led me end by thanking the government for engaging closely with the UN to undertake this mapping. You have supported the ITU to set a trend for the Asia Pacific as Thailand’s example is inspiring other UNCTs to undertake similar assessments to map the digital divide.

Goals we are supporting through this initiative

UN entities involved in this initiative

ITU
International Telecommunication Union
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNICEF
United Nations Children’s Fund