“Schools should continue to teach skills that can be easily carried out by technology.”

During the debate, I found myself strongly agreeing with the idea that schools should continue to teach skills that can now be done easily by technology. At first, it may seem unnecessary—why spend time on handwriting, math, or spelling when apps can do it faster? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how important these basic skills still are. When students learn to do things on their own, they gain deeper understanding and confidence. Technology is helpful, yes—but it shouldn’t replace learning. Students need both: the support of tech and the strength of real human skills.

🌍 A Global Perspective: Why Schools Must Continue Teaching Basic Skills—even in the Age of Technology

As we move deeper into the digital era, schools around the world are increasingly integrating technology into everyday learning. Artificial Intelligence (AI), online learning platforms, language translation tools, and calculators can now complete many tasks faster and more accurately than humans. Still, the question remains: Should schools continue teaching skills that can now be done easily by technology?

🤖 Technology Can Support, Not Replace, Human Learning

Across continents, AI and digital tools have made major improvements in access to learning. Platforms like Khan Academy, Google Classroom, Duolingo, and Coursera allow students to practice math, learn languages, and access top-tier lectures from anywhere in the world. A report by the World Bank highlights how technology closed learning gaps during COVID-19 by offering remote education to millions. (worldbank.org).

However, this does not mean that traditional skills—like handwriting, arithmetic, spelling, or face-to-face communication—are no longer valuable. In fact, research shows that when students learn these basic skills alongside technology, they understand concepts better and perform more confidently.

For example, a 2023 study in Finland showed that students who first learned to write by hand had stronger reading and memory skills than those who started with typing.

✋ Manual Skills Build Brain Power and Independence

Technology offers convenience, but relying on it too much can be risky. If students use a calculator for every math problem, they may never develop number sense. If they rely on Google Translate without understanding sentence structure, they may struggle to write or speak clearly.

In schools across Canada, Germany, Japan, and Bangladesh, teachers notice a trend: many students are losing focus, creativity, and problem-solving abilities because they over-rely on apps. When technology does all the thinking, students stop engaging deeply with the learning process.

Technology should support teaching, not replace it. Students still need to make mistakes, try things with their own hands, and think critically.

🧠 Thinking, Empathy, and Communication: Still Human Skills

Many essential life skills—like empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking—can’t be downloaded or automated. Schools are not just places to learn information, but also to grow socially and emotionally.

In group projects, drama classes, or classroom debates, students learn how to listen, express ideas, and respect differences. AI can write an essay, but it cannot teach a child how to defend an argument with passion, understand another person’s feelings, or work through conflict respectfully.

As one global educator, Sir Ken Robinson, said in his famous TED Talk , students thrive when schools value imagination, curiosity, and communication—not just correct answers.

💡 Balance is the Key

Of course, schools shouldn’t ignore technology. Teaching students how to use tools like AI, search engines, coding software, and data analysis programs is essential. The modern world demands digital literacy.

However, balance is key. Just because a skill can be done by a computer doesn’t mean it no longer matters.

🌐 A Global Call to Educators

Whether in rural Kenya, busy Seoul, suburban Canada, or crowded Dhaka, educators must ask: Are we preparing students to think deeply, or just to click quickly? Are we teaching students how to use technology—or how to depend on it?

The OECD and UNESCO recommend that future-ready education must blend “21st-century skills” with basic literacy, numeracy, and emotional intelligence. We must raise students who can write essays with their hands and edit them with AI; who can calculate with their minds and verify with machines.

In a world where AI can write, translate, and calculate, schools must still teach the very skills technology can now perform. Why? Because these skills build the foundation for deeper thinking, problem-solving, communication, and creativity. Without them, students become passive users of technology—not thoughtful, capable citizens.