World Bank Tests AI Tools to Help Teachers and Students in Africa

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly common in education, but many schools still struggle with limited resources, teacher shortages, and unequal access to technology.

Now, the World Bank is exploring how smaller, affordable AI tools can help address some of these challenges.

In a report published on October 21, 2026, the World Bank highlighted several projects using AI to support teachers, improve learning, and help students prepare for future careers.

One project in Ethiopia uses a mobile application called AI-Coach to help teachers improve classroom lessons.

Similar initiatives are being tested in other countries, including Senegal, Seychelles, and Zambia.

But how do these AI tools work, and could they improve education across Africa?

What Is the World Bank’s AI Education Initiative?

The World Bank is working with different governments to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence in education.

Rather than focusing only on large and expensive AI systems, the projects use an approach known as small AI.

Small AI refers to technology designed to solve a specific problem using relatively affordable and accessible tools.

For example, a school may not need an advanced AI system that can perform hundreds of tasks.

It might benefit more from a simple application that helps teachers identify areas where their lessons could improve.

The World Bank believes such tools could be particularly useful in countries where access to technology and educational resources remains limited.

How Is AI-Coach Helping Teachers in Ethiopia?

One of the examples highlighted in the report is AI-Coach.

AI-Coach is a mobile application designed to provide teachers with feedback about their classroom teaching.

Teachers can record lessons and receive feedback on different aspects of their work.

These include student engagement, the quality of questions asked during lessons, and teaching methods.

For example, imagine a mathematics teacher explaining fractions.

The teacher might record a lesson and use AI-Coach to review how questions were presented to students.

The application could help identify opportunities to encourage more participation or make explanations clearer.

The teacher can then apply the feedback during future lessons.

How Many Teachers Have Participated?

According to the World Bank, the Ethiopian government and the World Bank Group piloted AI-Coach with nearly 350 English and mathematics teachers.

The early feedback suggests that participating teachers found the guidance relevant and practical.

One teacher reported noticing improvements in student reasoning and critical thinking after applying the recommendations.

However, these are preliminary observations.

The World Bank has not established that the tool consistently improves examination results across all schools.

More research is needed to understand its long-term impact.

Why Could AI Coaching Be Important?

Teacher development is an important part of improving education.

Teachers benefit from observing other educators, receiving constructive feedback, and learning new instructional methods.

However, personal coaching can be difficult to provide regularly, particularly in large education systems.

For example, schools in remote areas may have limited access to experienced teaching mentors.

An AI coaching application could provide an additional source of guidance.

AI-Coach is also designed to work on ordinary mobile phones and accommodate intermittent internet connectivity.

This is important in communities where reliable internet access cannot always be guaranteed.

Nevertheless, AI feedback should support professional development rather than replace human supervision and teacher judgment.

How Is AI Helping Students Choose Careers?

The World Bank also highlighted a project in Peru called Eligiendo Mi Camino, meaning Choosing My Path.

The application helps students explore educational opportunities and potential careers.

It uses AI to guide students through questions about their interests and goals.

For example, a student interested in technology could explore careers involving engineering, programming, or data analysis.

The tool provides information about more than 130 occupations across 12 economic sectors.

According to the World Bank, the project is reaching more than 4,500 public-school students in Lima.

Early findings suggest that the guidance may improve students’ understanding of technical education and employment opportunities.

However, the system is designed to help students make decisions, not make those decisions for them.

Ukraine Is Also Developing an AI Mathematics Tutor

Another project involves Ukraine’s digital education platform, Mriia.

The World Bank says an AI mathematics tutor is being developed for students in grades six to nine.

The tutor will use information from Ukrainian textbooks to provide explanations and learning support.

An initial pilot is planned for ten schools.

The programme aims to expand to 2,000 schools by the middle of 2027, depending on implementation progress.

This is a planned expansion, not a completed rollout.

The project illustrates how AI learning tools can be adapted to local languages and educational materials.

What Is Happening in Other African Countries?

The World Bank reports that similar small AI pilots are underway in Senegal, Seychelles, and Zambia.

However, the report does not provide the same level of detail about these programmes as it does for Ethiopia.

It would therefore be premature to describe the African pilots as nationwide programmes.

The World Bank says its broader objective is to reach 13 million young people by 2030 through scalable education initiatives.

This is a future target, not the number of students already reached.

What Are the Benefits of AI in Education?

AI education tools could provide several benefits.

Personalised Learning

AI systems may adapt explanations and exercises to a student’s learning needs.

For example, a student struggling with multiplication could receive additional practice questions.

Teacher Support

AI coaching tools may help educators reflect on their teaching methods.

Career Guidance

AI applications can help students explore different occupations and educational pathways.

More Accessible Learning Support

Mobile applications could provide additional learning assistance in communities with limited educational resources.

However, these benefits depend on the quality of the tools, the information they use, and their accessibility.

What Challenges Remain?

There are several obstacles to using AI in schools.

These include unreliable electricity, expensive internet access, limited availability of devices, insufficient teacher training, and concerns about student privacy.

AI systems can also make mistakes.

For example, an AI tutor might generate an incorrect explanation of a mathematical problem.

Schools therefore need procedures for checking information and protecting learners.

Another concern is whether educational AI systems reflect local languages, curricula, and cultures.

A tool designed for one country may not work equally well in another without adaptation.

QueryFun Take: Small AI Could Make a Big Difference in Education

The World Bank’s initiative demonstrates that useful artificial intelligence does not always require complicated or expensive technology.

A simple application that helps teachers improve their lessons could be more valuable to a school than a sophisticated AI system with features it cannot use.

For African students and educators, practical applications of AI could help expand access to learning support.

However, technology should complement teachers, not replace them.

The most promising approach combines accessible tools, reliable educational content, teacher training, and continued evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI-Coach?

AI-Coach is a mobile application being piloted in Ethiopia to give teachers feedback on their classroom instruction.

Is the World Bank using AI in African schools?

Yes. The World Bank is supporting pilots involving AI education tools, including projects in Ethiopia, Senegal, Seychelles, and Zambia.

How many Ethiopian teachers have used AI-Coach?

The reported pilot involved nearly 350 English and mathematics teachers.

Can AI replace teachers?

AI can support lesson preparation, feedback, and practice, but teachers remain important for guidance, classroom management, and understanding students’ needs.

Can AI education tools work with limited internet?

Some tools, including Ethiopia’s AI-Coach, are designed to accommodate intermittent connectivity. Requirements vary by application.

Is AI-Coach available to all schools in Kenya?

The World Bank report does not announce a nationwide AI-Coach rollout in Kenya.

Primary source: World Bank: Small AI, Big Learning Possibilities