UNESCO has warned that proper governance and regulation of technology in education is lacking, and has called on countries to create rules for the design and use of technology in schools so its application does not supersede in-person teacher instruction.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has called for governments to take urgent action in response to the lack of national or international regulation around technology’s growing presence in education. Government negligence, the organization warns, could have dire consequences.
UNESCO has warned that proper governance and regulation of technology in education is lacking, and has called on countries to create rules for the design and use of technology in schools so its application does not supersede in-person teacher instruction. The organization’s goal is to ensure quality education worldwide.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO director general, has warned of the need to regulate the use of digital technology in education, emphasizing that it must improve learning experiences and benefit students and teachers – not harm them. “Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers,” she said. “Online connections are no substitute for human interaction.” Azoulay’s call comes as digital technology increasingly shapes the world of education.
At an event in Montevideo, Uruguay, titled “Technology in education: A tool on whose terms?” UNESCO, the Ministry of Education and Culture of Uruguay, and the Ceibal Foundation launched the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report. The report was presented to 18 ministers of education from around the world, exploring the impact technology is having on education systems worldwide.
UNESCO has proposed four considerations for policymakers and educational stakeholders as they integrate technology into education:
Appropriateness
Remote instruction widens learning inequities among students, as online content often fails to provide appropriate material. UNESCO has found that technology can improve learning in some contexts, yet it’s important to note that such gains evaporate if there is excess use or a lack of qualified teachers. Evidence shows computers distributed to students do not affect learning if teachers are not involved. Smartphones remain ubiquitous in schools despite research suggesting they are a distraction – less than 25 percent of countries prohibit their usage in educational settings.
Equitability
UNESCO has highlighted the importance of equality concerning technology use in education, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. At least half a billion students worldwide have been left behind due to rapid shifts to online learning, disproportionately affecting those living in poverty and rural areas. The report argues that access to meaningful connectivity is now part and parcel of the right to education, yet one in four primary schools lacks electricity. It recommends that all countries set benchmarks for connecting schools to the Internet by 2030 and prioritize those who are most marginalized.
Scalability
The evidence of the potential benefits of educational technology is largely provided by the companies that are selling it, raising concerns about bias. Furthermore, many countries are ignoring the long-term costs associated with these purchases and expanding their EdTech markets while neglecting basic education needs. Moving to digital learning in low-income countries and connecting all schools to the internet in lower-middle-income countries would add 50 percent to the current financing gap for achieving SDG4 targets. A full digital transformation, with internet access in schools and homes, would cost over $1 billion a day to operate.
Sustainability
UNESCO has warned that technology is advancing faster than education systems can keep up with. Developing digital literacy and critical thinking are essential, as generative AI rises — yet only 54 percent of surveyed countries have defined the skills they need for the future, and just 11 out of 51 governments have curricula for AI. Basic literacy is also key to avoiding phishing emails. However, only 16 percent of countries guarantee data privacy in education by law.
