JUNE 2025
TECHNOLOGY FOR
EDUCATION
A 5th grade student revises her lesson on a
laptop under the supervision of her teacher at
the Balta Lyceum No.1 in Odesa Region, Ukraine.
GPE/Oleksandr Techynskyi
Technology is a powerful tool to enhance learning and it has the potential to remove barriers
to education for all children. When supporting countries’ use of technology for education
(Tech4Ed), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) maintains a focus on equity and
bridging the digital divide.
THE CHALLENGE GPE RESULTS
The fast pace of change in technology is straining
how education systems adapt and equip students US$111.4 MILLION
with the skills they need to navigate an increasingly across 84 grants since 2021 to support the
digital world. use of technology for quality learning.
There is a global digital divide in terms of access to
technology and the opportunities it can bring. This
divide is especially challenging for learners who are
OVER $12 MILLION
invested through the GPE Knowledge
girls, living in rural areas and/or with disabilities. Two
and Innovation Exchange (KIX) toward
thirds of the world’s children (1.3 billion) do not have
Tech4Ed innovations to improve learning
internet access at home, preventing them from
quality and access including a gaming
using certain technology.
technology-based learning system for
New technologies such as artificial intelligence can children living as refugees and who are
improve education, but risk increasing learning displaced.
inequality without regulatory frameworks, research
evidence and staff training to digitally transform
education systems. Technology is often brought in $5 MILLION
without considering its long-term costs for national to the Tech4Ed technical assistance
budgets or safeguards to ensure equitable access. initiative to use technology to make
education systems more efficient and to
Two-thirds of teachers feel they do not have the
improve learning.
skills to teach with technology.
Providing technology hardware alone (such as
computers or tablets) to schools does not improve
learning.
For all data sources, visit [Link]
WHY TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION MATTERS GPE Tech4Ed support focuses on equity by bridging
the digital divide to build stronger and more resilient
With the right teacher support and considerations for
education systems and to improve education access,
accessibility, technology can accelerate transforming
learning and system management. In addition to
education systems to be more efficient, resilient and
grants for Tech4Ed, GPE offers technical assistance to
able to equip learners with the skills they need for a
partner countries including targeted expertise, tools
rapidly changing, digitalized world.
and solutions for child well-being. Responding to partner
Tech4Ed: country demand, GPE launched the Tech4Ed initiative
Allows for learning that uses different modes of implemented with support from UNICEF and EdTech Hub
instruction (such as a video combining music, to strengthen the planning and programming capacity
speech and text) and low-tech solutions (including of education ministries to use technology to improve
radios, SMS messaging and television) that can learning and education system efficiency.
support learning outcomes for students who are GPE also launched the Global Reference Group on
disadvantaged, especially those living in rural areas Technology for Education, bringing in governments,
or are vulnerable. civil society, foundations and the private sector to offer
Offers the option of personalized content to match advice and identify opportunities for GPE to enhance its
specific student learning needs and backgrounds. work and partnerships in Tech4Ed.
Provides an alternative means of communication
for learners with disabilities, access to educational
resources in a more convenient way and enhances
motivation to learn. TECH4ED IN PARTNER COUNTRIES
Ensures continued learning during emergency In Ukraine, GPE’s partnership with Microsoft, Google,
school closures (as evidenced throughout the UNESCO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education delivered
COVID-19 pandemic), in contexts affected by fragility over $53 million in funding and equipment to ensure
and conflict, and in response to climate shocks. continued access to education by setting up digital
learning centers as well as psychosocial support for
GPE APPROACH children affected by conflict by financing teacher
training.
Education interventions that use technology should
be designed so that they can reach all children and In Zambia, a $10-million GPE grant was used to
meet their learning needs, address local education distribute solar radios to vulnerable students, including
goals and be used at scale. GPE uses the more girls and children from low-income households so
encompassing concept of Tech4Ed that speaks to the that they could access distance learning. In addition,
responsible, informed as well as strategic deployment teachers were trained in using different technologies to
and use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) monitor student performance, identifying children who
tools in education. may be at risk of dropping out of school and promoting
engagement during distance learning.
GPE’s publication “Making Technology Work for
Education Transformation Goals” outlines the In Malawi, the government used a $15.2-million
partnership approach to delivering quality Tech4Ed GPE Multiplier grant that leveraged an additional
interventions that are: led by country context, driven by $15.2 million in cofinancing from private partners to
evidence, designed for all children, safe and secure to scale a tablet-based education program to all public
prevent harmful behaviors online and protect children, primary schools to improve foundational learning
and ensure sustainability and cost-effectiveness. It and numeracy skills. The tablets do not require any
builds on the common framework to digitally transform connectivity, allowing for continued learning for
education systems of the Digital Transformation children living in lower-income households with limited
Collaborative, developed in partnership with UNESCO, access to electricity.
the International Telecommunication Union, UNICEF
and GPE.
information@[Link]
