President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has challenged leaders to strengthen efforts to get children learning (Special Report, October 14).

At present, the majority of girls and boys in developing countries are in school but learning very little. This problem is particularly acute in low-income countries, where a staggering 90 per cent of 10-year-olds do not even learn to read.

Technology can play a supportive role, but it is important to note that technology is neither necessary nor sufficient to improve learning.

The main goal of education reform needs to be improving the quality of teaching; technology should only be used where it is a cost-effective way to further that goal.

Oby Ezekwesili
Senior Fellow, Yale Jackson Institute
Founder of Human CapitalAfrica
Former Vice-President of the World Bank, Africa Region

Kirsty Newman
Director of Programme, Research on Improving Systems of Education, Oxford Policy Management, Oxford, UK