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Engineering Analysis of Technology Accessibility and Infrastructure Enhancement Strategies for Improving Educational Access in Rural Communities

by Nguyen Hai Nam, Hoang Thi Hong Minh
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International Journal of Computer Applications
Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Volume 187 - Number 150
Year of Publication: 2026
Authors: Nguyen Hai Nam, Hoang Thi Hong Minh
10.5120/ijcaf6cddae4d04a

Nguyen Hai Nam, Hoang Thi Hong Minh . Engineering Analysis of Technology Accessibility and Infrastructure Enhancement Strategies for Improving Educational Access in Rural Communities. International Journal of Computer Applications. 187, 150 ( Oct 2026), 28-35. DOI=10.5120/ijcaf6cddae4d04a

@article{ 10.5120/ijcaf6cddae4d04a,
author = { Nguyen Hai Nam, Hoang Thi Hong Minh },
title = { Engineering Analysis of Technology Accessibility and Infrastructure Enhancement Strategies for Improving Educational Access in Rural Communities },
journal = { International Journal of Computer Applications },
issue_date = { Oct 2026 },
volume = { 187 },
number = { 150 },
month = { Oct },
year = { 2026 },
issn = { 0975-8887 },
pages = { 28-35 },
numpages = {9},
url = { https://ijcaonline.org/archives/volume187/number150/engineering-analysis-of-technology-accessibility-and-infrastructure-enhancement-strategies-for-improving-educational-access-in-rural-communities/ },
doi = { 10.5120/ijcaf6cddae4d04a },
publisher = {Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA},
address = {New York, USA}
}
%0 Journal Article
%1 2026-11-01T00:58:52.784639+05:30
%A Nguyen Hai Nam
%A Hoang Thi Hong Minh
%T Engineering Analysis of Technology Accessibility and Infrastructure Enhancement Strategies for Improving Educational Access in Rural Communities
%J International Journal of Computer Applications
%@ 0975-8887
%V 187
%N 150
%P 28-35
%D 2026
%I Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Abstract

By 2025, all disadvantaged students in Vietnam will receive a digital learning device. However, children in the Northwest mountainous region (Tây Bắc) of Vietnam are far from realizing these promises. The region is home to many ethnic minorities who make up more than three-quarters of the population in the Northwest. The six Tây Bắc provinces include Lai Châu, where this research was conducted. A needs assessment of digital learning in Lai Châu found that while 26.2% of students across the province possess learning devices, in many remote satellite classrooms, donated learning devices are unable to deliver any learning due to lack of power during the monsoon season. This paper first presents a human-centred analysis identifying which children cannot access digital learning and why. Next, an engineering evaluation of six alternative infrastructure approaches is presented. Each approach is evaluated against the question that matters most to a child: what does the approach deliver in terms of learning hours, cost per student, and depth of reach into the most remote schools? The analysis uses public statistics as well as NASA POWER solar irradiance data for the six Tây Bắc provinces. The results of the engineering evaluation show that a hybrid TV White Space (TVWS) distribution network combined with stand-alone solar power delivers approximately 5.7 out of 6 possible learning hours per day. In terms of five-year cost, the approach delivers 13% less cost than satellite alone. In terms of availability, the hybrid design delivers higher availability at the most remote schools than a satellite-plus-solar system of equivalent availability. Finally, in terms of cost, the hybrid design delivers 40% less cost than a satellite-plus-solar system of equivalent availability. All system-performance figures are modeled rather than field-measured. What converts a device into learning is the device's continuous, self-sufficient availability to the child. Therefore, the decisive design choice is energy autonomy rather than additional bandwidth.

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Index Terms

Computer Science
Information Sciences

Keywords

Digital equity; Educational inclusion; Ethnic-minority education; TV White Space; Solar-powered schools; Northwest Vietnam

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