Features

Nonku Nyathi, Injini

Bringing more technology into schools is often framed as a lifeline for overburdened teachers, particularly in rural settings, where classrooms are often overcrowded and there are limited resources and support. When digital tools arrive, the promise is that these technologies will lighten the load, but this isn’t always the case. Instead, they can create new pressures and challenges for already overstretched teachers, especially if the technology is introduced without the right foundations in place.

With edtech, there are first-order and second-order barriers, says Rael Futerman, co-founder and chief learning officer of the experiential learning platform Cartedo. First-order barriers are systemic challenges, the ones that usually make news headlines – a lack of data or devices, poor internet connectivity, infrastructure issues, affordability and unreliable electricity supply.