Zambia to pilot AI integration into education system

by ARNOLD MULENGA

LUSAKA – ZAMBIA plans to launch a pilot project in April aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its national education system as part of broader efforts to modernise teaching and learning.

The initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Zambian government and the Obrizum Group, a United Kingdom-based educational technology company headquartered in Cambridge.

Obrizum provides an AI-powered adaptive learning and analytics platform designed to support large-scale enterprise training and digital learning systems.

The MoU, signed in Lusaka on Monday, has been hailed as a significant step towards enabling Zambia to leverage advanced technologies to improve the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of education.

The pilot programme will focus primarily on secondary schools and institutions under the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) system.

Dr Chibeza Agley, Chief Executive Officer of Obrizum, signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

“The collaboration will focus on piloting AI-driven learning solutions designed to transform the education experience for learners and educators alike,” Agley explained.

“The project will demonstrate how technology-enabled learning can enhance efficiency, improve learning outcomes and better prepare graduates for the demands of the modern workforce.”

Felix Mutati, Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, said the pilot AI initiative aligns with the government’s broader commitment to improving national education standards and preparing students for a digital economy.

According to Mutati, integrating AI into education could allow learning to be personalised according to the needs and abilities of individual students, whether they are studying in rural or urban environments.

Such technology could help bridge the digital divide while improving educational outcomes across the country.

AI systems could also support teachers by helping them tailor lessons more effectively and monitor students’ progress more accurately.

“The introduction of AI in education represents a shift from the traditional classroom model towards a more personalised and responsive learning environment,” Mutati said.

“By adopting AI-driven tools, Zambia aims to deliver personalised education more efficiently, reduce the cost of delivery and achieve improved learning outcomes using available resources.”

The pilot project also supports Zambia’s National AI Strategy (2024–2026), which seeks to promote innovation and technological development across key sectors of the economy.

Authorities believe that wider adoption of AI technologies could contribute significantly to national economic growth and potentially increase the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by around eight percent by 2030.

– CAJ News