Abstract:

Governments have increased public investment in digital education infrastructure to expand connectivity and support learning innovation. Nevertheless, high budget execution does not necessarily translate into effective educational outcomes. This paper evaluates the efficiency of public spending in digital education policies, with a specific focus on connectivity programs aimed at vulnerable households and schools.

Drawing on an evaluation conducted by the Colombian Supreme Audit Institution, the study assesses whether public expenditure on fixed Internet connectivity achieved proportional results in coverage, affordability, and effective use. The analysis applies criteria of allocative and operational efficiency, examining cost structures, territorial deployment, and implementation bottlenecks over a multi‐year policy horizon.

Results indicate that infrastructure expansion alone is insufficient to ensure meaningful educational impact. Factors such as service affordability, institutional coordination, sustainability of subsidies, and alignment with educational needs significantly affect efficiency. In several cases, the concentration on physical deployment limited the policy’s capacity to foster digital appropriation and educational innovation.

The paper contributes to the digital education literature by emphasizing the importance of efficiency‐oriented evaluations in public spending and highlighting the need to link financial performance with educational objectives. It is particularly relevant for education policymakers, public finance analysts, and stakeholders involved in the design and evaluation of digital education investments.

Keywords:

Public spending efficiency, digital divide, ICT infrastructure, digital education policy, allocative efficiency, education governance.