Teaching and Learning in the Cloud: Prospects and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence for Education in Africa

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gradually revolutionizing several sectors, including healthcare, education, energy, agriculture, finance and manufacturing, among others. No wonder AI is considered a tool for sustainable development. Like other sectors, education—broadly defined to include not only the formal schooling process but also other forms of Teaching and Learning (T&L) coordinated by educational institutions, Intergovernmental Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), businesses, government agencies and similar stakeholders, for instance specialized courses — is also benefiting from AI. These technologies offer a way to surmount constraints associated with traditional T&L and, invariably a means to improve access to, quality of and an overall experience with education, fostering Sustainable Development Goal 4. Against this backdrop, we ask a central question: what are the prospects and challenges of AI in Africa’s education systems? We use qualitative literature review and documentary analysis to answer the question.