CONTRIBUTORS
Lucy Wakiaga
Associate Research Scientist
By Lucy Wakiaga and Charity Waweru-Mwangi.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has steadily gained traction in Africa over the past decade, initially embraced by the finance, agriculture, and healthcare sectors. More recently, the education sector in Africa has also increasingly begun embracing AI as a transformative and innovative solution to address perennial challenges in teaching and learning. By leveraging AI, African countries aim to improve learning outcomes and transform education, bridge gaps in access to quality education, and address other factors such as teacher shortage and resource limitations. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have taken significant steps in this movement, adopting innovative solutions to address education needs.
Over the recent years, Kenya has made significant strides towards leveraging AI into its development agenda. Early this year, the government released the draft Kenya National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy 2025-2030 and called for public participation, marking a pivotal step in this development journey. The strategy provides a comprehensive framework within which Kenya can harness AI’s transformative power across development sectors, including education. The ultimate aim is to propel Kenya as a leading AI hub in Africa, driving innovation, sustainable socio-economic development, and cutting-edge research and application.
Kenya’s competency-based curriculum (CBC), which emphasizes digital literacy, enables easier access to AI-related technology to aid teaching and learning. AI-powered EdTech platforms like M-Shule and Eneza Education are already making a difference, especially in underserved communities. These platforms employ AI algorithms to analyze individual learning patterns and adapt content to suit students’ unique needs, ensuring better engagement and comprehension. Additionally, AI tools such as speech-to-text and real-time translations have made education more inclusive for students with disabilities or language barriers.
The Ministry of Education has partnered with local and international tech organizations, including Microsoft and Google, to build teachers’ capacity to use AI efficiently and effectively in teaching, assessment, and classroom record management. Recently, AI has significantly supported science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and innovation. Higher Education institutions, such as the University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenya University of Agriculture and Technology, are also harnessing the power of AI in teaching and research, further solidifying Kenya’s position as a leader in AI adoption in the region.
However, despite these developments in policy and practice, there is an ever-present concern regarding how to maintain human agency in the era of AI. While AI presents numerous advantages, it is essential to sustain human agency by ensuring that students, educators, and institutions control the learning environment. Many educational institutions, especially universities, are now establishing clear guidelines on the responsible use of AI to ensure that human judgment remains central to critical thinking and decision-making. While promoting AI’s limited use, these guidelines establish AI as a collaborative tool that complements rather than replaces human capabilities, maintaining a balanced approach to integration in the teaching and learning environment.
Integrating AI in education raises further concerns about whether professional quality may be compromised if students do not use AI responsibly. Over-reliance on AI tools without developing fundamental skills can lead to skill erosion, such as reduced critical thinking and problem-solving, ultimately impacting students’ professional competence. AI in education could also inadvertently lead to gaps in social skills, where students may excel in navigating AI-powered platforms but lack the foundational skills needed to adapt to new challenges in the workplace. For instance, while AI can automate routine tasks, it cannot replace the human capacity for innovation, emotional intelligence, and complex decision-making.
While interacting with AI tools in the learning environment, it is essential to ensure that ethical considerations are made. One significant challenge in AI adoption within the learning environment is the mistrust between educators and students. Since this technology has gained popularity among student bodies, educators have expressed worry about AI facilitating academic dishonesty. Their response to this has further led to students feeling unfairly assessed by AI-driven systems. Training programs that educate students and faculty on AI’s ethical and practical use can build trust and confidence in the technology.
To address this and ensure responsible use of AI, institutions must develop clear AI usage policies that outline ethical guidelines, including transparency in AI applications and the reinforcement of human oversight in decision-making processes. They must also balance leveraging AI for efficiency and ensuring students develop the resilience and adaptability needed for their careers. By addressing these long-term considerations, educational institutions can ensure that AI serves as a tool for empowerment rather than a source of dependency, ultimately contributing to a more skilled and adaptable workforce that can drive economic growth and societal progress.
Policy frameworks should include mechanisms for regular audits of AI systems to ensure they align with national and international ethical standards and educational goals. Collaboration with policymakers, educators, and technology developers is essential to create adaptive regulations that can evolve with AI advancements. In addition, stakeholder engagement, including student participation, should be integrated into policy development to ensure inclusivity and address concerns. Learning institutions should promote interdisciplinary collaboration between technical experts and educators to design AI tools that enhance, rather than replace, human interaction and creativity. Regular review of AI guidelines by institutional and national ethical review boards will help AI be implemented more effectively into education systems and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.
Africa still faces significant challenges to fully realize the power of AI in revolutionizing its education systems. To truly unlock this transformative potential, it is imperative to prioritize equity and inclusivity in its integration. This means ensuring that AI tools and resources are accessible to underfunded schools, marginalized communities, and rural learners, who often face the most significant barriers to quality education. By addressing these gaps, we can harness AI as a technological innovation and a force for social good—bridging divides, promoting equal opportunities, and empowering all learners to thrive in an AI-driven future.
This year’s International Day of Education theme, “Artificial Intelligence and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” offered a timely opportunity to reflect on AI’s evolving role as a partner in learning. It also reminded us to champion the values of critical thinking, ethical responsibility, and lifelong learning as we navigate this transformative journey.