Education is the most powerful investment the world can make to end poverty, and artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to supercharge it. But the integration of AI presents both opportunities and challenges.
This International Day of Education, which is themed around AI and education, we explore how the international development community and governments can take full advantage of the opportunities and navigate the challenges.
A Missed Opportunity
Much of the conversation and application of AI in education has focused on generative tools that support tutoring, curriculum development, and personalised learning. Amazing for those with digital literacy and access to technology, yet often unavailable to educators and learners in the contexts within which we work.
Not only does this highlight a need to invest in infrastructure and improving digital literacy so that these tools can be used effectively by those most in need, it also indicates a missed opportunity.
AI could have a profound impact on transforming education systems used at governmental and institutional levels to improve decision-making. For example, to enhance administrative tasks, streamline data analysis and recognise patterns or opportunities in education data. All of which would boost a government’s ability to identify educational gaps, allocate human, material and financial resources more effectively, improve accountability, and better target and support those learners most in need.
But, where the knowledge and data already exist to feed AI tools that support learning, data does not yet exist in a sufficient quantity or, crucially, quality to support the transformative potential of AI at a decision-making and systems strengthening level.
Data Quality
Such transformation will always be constrained by the quality of the data that underpins it. The adage ‘garbage in, garbage out’ applies. Bad data cannot generate meaningful insights.
If we are to make the most of investments in AI to supercharge educational transformation, it is essential to prioritise investing in robust data systems that collect high-quality disaggregated data —systems like HereMIS.
Quality Systems
HereMIS is an innovative digital management information system (MIS) CGA Technologies developed to address critical education data gaps. Gaps, that when filled, give governments unparalleled knowledge of which children are losing out, where, what to invest in and whether those investments are working.
HereMIS captures meaningful data down to the individual learner and teacher. When analysed, this enables governments to make data-driven decisions to improve education systems, as authorities in Sierra Leone and Mali are doing with HereMIS, and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is doing with SERNIE, an education MIS CGA Technologies is upgrading.
Transformative Potential
Paired with HereMIS and its quality, well-structured data, AI could unlock even greater potential for education.
Scaled across an entire education system, the volume of data collected and managed in HereMIS is colossal. AI can streamline the analysis of large datasets to identify gaps and opportunities that may not be immediately apparent, enabling them to measure impacts within seconds and inform policy. It can even be used to continuously enhance the quality of data collected.
The potential for AI to transform education is immense, but it starts with strong data systems and rigorous structures. Without that foundation, the opportunities AI offers will remain out of reach to many countries who would otherwise stand to gain the most.
Let’s invest in this foundation to unlock the potential that AI offers in transforming education for all.
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