Global education forum warns: Tech progress is moving faster than schools can adapt

A global education forum has issued a stark warning, i.e., technology is accelerating far faster than schools can realistically respond.

At a major gathering in Doha, the global education forum stressed that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping classrooms worldwide, but many systems remain unprepared for the speed of transformation.

During the opening sessions, delegates noted that while AI can strengthen learning, it risks deepening divides if deployed without robust planning, training, and governance.

The forum brought together thousands of policymakers, teachers, researchers, and tech experts from more than 100 countries for the 12th World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE).

A key theme was ensuring that emerging tools enhance the human core of teaching. 

Speakers cautioned that weak data governance, inadequate teacher training, and poor alignment with national curricula could turn rapid innovation into systemic inequality.

One high-level panel at the event argued that successful adoption depends less on technical sophistication and more on cultural relevance and teacher trust.

They also warned that tools built far from classrooms often fail in overcrowded or under-resourced environments.

Additionally, UNESCO researchers at the forum highlighted widening digital gaps, especially in regions affected by conflict and displacement.