Speaking to Channel Africa on Tuesday, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and South African (SA) AI Engineer, highlighted both the transformative potential and the pressing challenges facing education systems across the continent.
Marwala emphasised the dual need to upskill and reskill educators and students alike. He noted that traditional education, rooted in memorisation, must evolve into systems that foster critical thinking, creativity, and responsible use of technology.
“Access to information is being democratised,” he said. “Education must now focus on helping people to think and solve problems beyond what AI can replicate.”
While AI tools such as ChatGPT have made learning more accessible, particularly in underserved areas, concerns remain about their limitations. AI, Marwala warned, is not a precision tool.
Its reliance on digital representation means that African languages, histories, and contexts, often underrepresented online, risk being excluded or misrepresented.
To address this, Professor Marwala called for African participation in AI development, including digitising local archives and reconfiguring algorithms to accommodate indigenous languages and cultural nuances. He referenced a University of Pretoria project to digitise SABC archives as a positive step.
Marwala also urged governments to implement AI literacy from early childhood to university levels and beyond.
“Illiteracy today,” he said, “is not just about reading and writing; it’s about understanding and using digital technologies.”
Despite infrastructural gaps, mobile connectivity offers a viable solution for many African schools. “The convergence of mobile and computing technology can bridge digital divides,” Marwala asserted, adding that SA’s 5G readiness is a strategic advantage.
Addressing ethical concerns, such as algorithmic bias and misinformation, Marwala proposed a multi-pronged approach, regulation, education, standards, and incentivising responsible use.
Ultimately, he concluded, AI is not here to replace teachers, but to augment human wisdom. “We must prepare our people to lead in an AI-driven world, creatively, ethically, and inclusively.”
--ChannelAfrica--
