A dissatisfactory penetration of technology to disadvantaged groups, overselling of products to the marginalized communities by instilling fear of failure and use of Ed Tech having worsened learning loss among government school children: Experts highlighted a wide range of challenges with the booming Ed Tech sector trying to replace conventional teaching-learning in schools.

At the ‘EdTech for Equity: Critical Conversations’ conference, hosted by IT for Change and CETI, in Bengaluru on Thursday, academicians, tech experts and educationists explored how technology can promote equitable education in India. Discussions focused on opportunities and risks in integrating EdTech for teachers, students, and education systems.

Aishwarya Sharma from Manav Rachna University and NIEPA cautioned against “market hype around untested EdTech solutions,” noting their normalization among marginalized communities. Sharma warned that sales representatives of Ed Tech companies instill fear in the minds of parents by asking higher order thinking questions that are not age inappropriate to younger children. When the child fails to answer, a tech product is sold as the only solution.

The conference included participants from organizations such as EkStep Foundation, Khan Academy, Microsoft Research, Sikshana Foundation, and Learning Matters.

“I am optimistic about technology’s potential in education, but we must ask — whom are we building EdTech for? Most platforms focus on student engagement, often borrowing models from the West without adapting to India’s context. Are we bringing in our cultural values and addressing language diversity, or just following global templates? Even simple lessons — like those about food — often ignore local realities.

The joy of learning comes from teachers, not just tech tools. Today, most EdTech serves Tier 1 and 2, English-speaking private schools, leaving local schools behind. We need solutions that ensure accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural relevance for every learner in India,” said Tanuja Ganu, Director of Research Engineering, Microsoft Research. 

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