Should Touch Screen Tablets Be Used to Improve Educational Outcomes in Primary School Children in Developing Countries?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (United Nations, 2015). Whereas, principal focus of global education planning since 2000 had been on getting children into , sustainable development goal 4 (above) reflects concerns about quality. As improving outcomes starts to receive heightened policy focus, it becomes imperative to consider types of intervention that can be most effective in raising learning outcomes, particularly in characterized by poor resourcing and persistent low attainment levels. Here, we consider touch screen tablets can be used to improve educational outcomes in primary school children in countries. We focus on early maths attainment in Malawi as one of the most dramatic of the current learning challenge.