As artificial intelligence rapidly enters classrooms worldwide, education systems face a much older, more immediate problem: they don't have enough teachers.

UNESCO has warned that the global education system is facing a major teacher shortage. According to its latest projections, the world needs millions of additional teachers to provide every child with access to quality education.

Several factors are driving the shortage, including teachers leaving the profession, difficult working conditions, inadequate support, and the growing number of children needing education.

The problem is particularly serious in parts of Africa, where rapidly growing school-age populations are increasing the demand for qualified teachers.

The shortage is creating an interesting challenge for governments.

Artificial intelligence and digital learning platforms are increasingly presented as ways to support education, but technology can't fully replace the role of a teacher.

This means that while AI may become an important classroom assistant, education systems still need qualified people at the centre of education.

The global teacher shortage therefore raises an important question for governments: as education becomes more technologically advanced, who will actually be there to teach the students?

For many countries, solving the future of education may require more than investing in technology. It may also mean making teaching a profession that people want to enter, remain in and build their careers around.