Internet connectivity was strongly associated with mean reading performance at the system level. High-performing countries and economies tended to have more school computers (those available to 15-year-olds for educational purposes) that are connected to the Internet. This positive relationship was observed, even after accounting for per capita GDP, across all participating countries and economies. Differences in Internet connectivity accounted for as much as 57% of the differences in mean reading performance across all participating countries and economies in PISA 2018. In addition, schools’ Internet bandwidth or speed was positively correlated to mean reading performance, and to equity in reading performance, across all participating countries and economies, before and after accounting for per capita GDP.

OECD

OCDE. (2020). PISA 2018 results (Volume V): effective policies, successful schools, PISA: Vol. V. P.195