Half a Decade of Artificial Intelligence in Education in Africa: Trends, Opportunities, Challenges and Future Directions

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping numerous sectors, including education. This study delves into AI in education (AIEd) within Africa, analyzing its trends, opportunities, challenges, and prospective paths. Employing the PRISMA framework, we systematically reviewed 22 articles published from 2017 to 2022. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of AIEd in Africa's educational landscape, highlighting the shift towards adaptive testing, particularly computer-adaptive testing (CAT), and its advantages, like precise student assessments and reduced test durations. The study also explores strategies to enhance graduate employability, emphasizing university-industry collaborations, curriculum updates, and quality assurance. Furthermore, it examines the implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in education, advocating for integrating emerging technologies and adapting educational content and practices to meet digital-era challenges. While technology integration, including smartphones and ICT tools like Moodle, shows promise for enriching learning experiences, we identify pressing challenges such as resource contextualization, teacher training, and ethical issues. The study concludes with targeted recommendations for educators, policymakers, and African stakeholders to harness AIEd effectively. Emphasizing areas like adaptive testing, robust university-industry partnerships, 4IR-aligned curriculum development, and ethical, inclusive technology integration, these recommendations aim to empower African education systems to capitalize on AIEd's benefits while navigating the complexities of the digital age.