CS Machogu stresses AI potential in bridging educational gaps

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu Wednesday underscored the importance of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the education sector to bridge existing educational gaps and improve learning outcomes.

Speaking Wednesday morning during the Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence Convention (EARFAI) at Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi, Machogu highlighted AI’s potential to deliver quality education where traditional sources are scarce including enhancing human skills through research, critical thinking, data analysis and ethical reasoning.

“In the education sector, AI presents us with the opportunity to streamline administrative processes; personalize learning experiences; foster interactive environments and provide valuable data-driven insights. This will ultimately contribute to a more efficient, adaptive, and student-centred educational landscape” the CS said.

The CS seized the opportunity to share with the stakeholders from 15 Eastern African countries who gathered in Nairobi for the forum how his ministry is leveraging AI tools while adhering to ethical standards to ensure a fair, inclusive, and transparent educational environment.

“Because of this potential, we, in Kenya, are already putting in place strategies to harness the power of AI for enhanced learning, innovation and inclusivity. At the basic education level, the integration of AI in the 11 Kenya Basic Education Curriculum Framework focuses on developing essential digital skills among learners” he said.

CS Machogu emphasised on the importance of AI in the education sector for it give opportunity to streamline administrative processes; personalize learning experiences; foster interactive environments and provide valuable data-driven insights. pic.twitter.com/uNCozqMqy3

— EduMinKenya (@EduMinKenya) June 26, 2024

He disclosed that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had begun exploring the use of AI in developing and administering national examinations adding that the uptake of the technologies in the tertiary education sub-sector was progressive in areas such as machine and deep learning, generative AI, data science and computer vision.

He was however quick to caution against the risks of artificial intelligence that can reinforce existing biases, inequalities and promote discrimination.

“We must be careful, especially in the education sector, against ignoring the known and potential risks of AI. We should ensure that there are adequate checks and balances, so that we are sure of what we are introducing our young ones to. As we all are aware, AI, like many other technologies, can propagate certain world views, at the expense of others” he said.

“We therefore need to put in place frameworks that establish appropriate cultural and social suitability checks and vetting for the AI systems that we deploy to our schools” he advised.

Additionally, he hailed UNESCO for developing the first-ever global standard on AI ethics and also the African Union which is working on an AI strategy.

“Happily, we are not starting from nothing. Good progress has already been made at the global, regional and domestic levels, from which we can make further progress. UNESCO has done a great and commendable job in developing the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The African Union is in the process of developing the Continental AI Strategy for Africa”

He added “This should set us on a path to building capabilities and capacities in AI skills; research and development; and governance, as well as ensuring regional and international cooperation and coordination on this fast-moving and disruptive technology”.

The Eastern Africa Regional member states taking part in the forum include Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania.

The culmination of the three-day conference was the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration on AI.

Kenya is the first East African country to hand over the document which provides concrete status of AI readiness of Kenya with recommendations for responsible and ethical AI development, adoption and use.