Using AI for the benefit of education systems remains a challenge. But if done correctly, there can be significant benefits.

AI has been one of the most heavily discussed topics in the world in recent times. It has its uses in the world of international development, and it could be for the benefit of millions. Within education, it holds the potential to build capacity for teachers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It can do this through creating high-quality assessments, saving invaluable time for teachers, and personalising teacher training.

Raise assessment quality

Our research has found that AI products can be used to improve the quality of school assessments. There are many assessment products that can raise standards across all assessment stages, including creation, administration, grading, analysis and feedback. The products can do this through inputs such as a textbook, by leveraging language learning models (LLMs) and machine readable text.

There are also products that can generate visual assessments through text-to-image models. AI assessment products can therefore develop an engaging experience for students. Many school teachers do not have the expertise to design and administer high-quality assessments, so AI products can support them here, while taking away the possibility of human error involved.

AI capabilities can branch into reading and comprehension assessments too. Voice recognition and speech-to-text technologies can be used to administer aural assessments that test for reading and comprehension. This means teachers can test students across a variety of mediums, which can be particularly useful for different subjects.

Cost and time savings

Many school teachers do not have the capacity to create, administer, grade, analyse and provide feedback for assessments. Due to significant population increases in many LMICs, school classes are often overcrowded. Up to 45 students may be attending each class, so reducing the time teachers need to spend on assessments is one way of reducing burdens on them.

Teachers currently spend hours every week working on assessments that AI could be working on for them. The newfound time they could dedicate to individual students and improving classes has the opportunity to improve overall teaching quality and education for children.

There is still a long way to go before it is commonplace to see AI being used as a pivotal part of assessments in education throughout LMICs. However, AI can bring benefits to teachers, which in turn can improve the quality of education for children.