What Schools Must Protect in an AI World with Andreas Schleicher S11E4 (143)

In this episode of The Learning Future Podcast, Louka Parry speaks with Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, about the changing purpose of education in an age of AI, uncertainty and rapid technological change. Together, they explore how technology is shifting from being merely a tool to something that challenges what it means to be human. Andreas reflects on both the promise and risk of AI in education: its capacity to free teachers from routine tasks and personalise learning, but also its tendency to encourage cognitive offloading, weaken social connection and erode essential human capabilities if used poorly. Louka and Andreas also discuss the changing role of teachers, not as content deliverers, but as mentors, designers of learning environments and builders of human connection. Drawing on examples from high-performing systems such as Estonia, Andreas highlights the importance of teacher professionalism, collaborative culture, student belonging and a more intentional design of schools as social spaces.