The World Bank has urged governments and education leaders to rethink their approach to using digital and AI tools in schools. This call comes as many poor and vulnerable students around the world are being left behind in the digital age.
In a new report titled “Digital Pathways for Education: Enabling Greater Impact for All,” the World Bank stated that education systems must adopt new approaches if they are to give every child a fair chance to learn. The Bank warned that many countries are still using quick-fix digital solutions that do not last. Instead of rushing to use any available tool, governments should develop long-term plans that support learning and skill development. This involves collaborating closely with private companies, communities, and civil society groups to develop systems that foster innovation and are underpinned by robust, fair rules.
The report stated that schools should discontinue using multiple apps that do not integrate or function effectively with each other. Instead, they should utilise a single, integrated digital system that enables the school to run more efficiently, facilitates teaching, and promotes students’ learning effectiveness. The World Bank also stated that technology alone cannot solve the education problem. Teachers, tech workers, and government officials must always focus on helping students learn. Teachers are still the most important part of the classroom, and any technology used should only help them do their job, not replace them.
As digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) become increasingly prevalent, schools must teach students digital skills and utilise those skills to enhance learning. However, the World Bank clearly stated that people, not machines, must remain the most important part of any educational change.
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