How AI is playing an important role in the education sector in the Global South?

In the Global South, students and teachers alike are experiencing the impact of artificial intelligence in the classroom, despite officials' mixed recommendations on its adoption. Instead of debating whether AI should enter the education system, the pressing question is whether educators will be equipped to guide students in its responsible use.

Currently, students turn to AI for homework and personal support, while teachers struggle to identify AI-generated work and adapt to the technology themselves, often without proper training. This situation exacerbates existing educational inequalities, with well-resourced institutions reaping the benefits while others lag behind.

Teachers' anxiety about AI's role in education typically dissipates once they become familiar with the technology. AI can streamline repetitive administrative tasks, such as grading and lesson planning, allowing educators to focus on individual student needs. However, the essence of teaching—readily adapting to a student's emotional state, providing encouragement or challenge—remains uniquely human and cannot be replicated by machines.

Efforts like AI Academy Asia's partnership with Mongolia's National AI Campaign highlight the importance of direct intervention. By prioritizing teacher training in AI skills, the campaign aims to create a ripple effect that benefits students. The program's success in attracting nearly 4,000 educators from all 21 provinces, despite only 500 spots available, demonstrates the demand for such training.

Since its inception, the initiative has trained 1,000 teachers, who are poised to influence around 50,000 students by the end of 2026. Crucially, this approach specifically targets women and girls in underserved regions, addressing educational equity as a central objective.

Ultimately, AI's integration into education is not merely a technical challenge but requires a cultural shift. Simply providing students with computers or software subscriptions is insufficient. What truly matters is a teacher's deep understanding of AI, enabling them to deploy it judiciously to enhance learning outcomes. As AI continues to reshape education, schools and systems that invest in educator training will be better positioned to navigate this technological landscape successfully.