Imagine this: A student in Kigali has a laptop, strong internet, and even a personal tablet. When the teacher says “use AI tools like ChatGPT to practice English,” she smiles because everything is ready for her.
But another student in rural Gisagara has only a textbook, no internet at home, and sometimes even struggles with electricity. When he hears “use AI tools,” he wonders, “What is that? How can I try it?”
This is the reality that teachers in Rwanda and other countries face today. Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a big new wave in education. It can help us save time, prepare lessons, and support students. But at the same time, it can also increase the gap between those who have access and those who do not.
In this article, we will look at both sides, how AI can make learning fairer or more unequal and what teachers in Rwanda can do to make sure no learner is left behind.
What is Generative AI in Education?
Generative AI is a smart tool that can create texts, images, or even lesson plans for us. Tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, QuillBot, and Khanmigo are examples.
- It can simplify texts for learners.
- It can answer questions in different ways until the student understands.
- It can support teachers by preparing exercises, lesson plans, or marking guidance.
Teachers in Rwanda who are part of professional learning communities, likeGisagara Community of Practice of English Teachers are already exploring how to use AI in lesson preparation. To capture the importance of CoPs read this: Why Every English Teacher Should Join a Community of Practice
But the big question is: Will these tools bring equality or widen the gap?
The Bright Side: How AI Can Promote Equality
When used wisely, AI can make classrooms fairer and give every learner a chance to succeed. Here are some positive sides:
1. Helping Students with Learning Difficulties
Some learners find English or Mathematics very hard. AI can explain things in simple steps, repeat as many times as needed, and even give examples at the learner’s level.
For example, a student struggling with tenses in English can use AI to ask: “Explain present perfect tense in simple words.” AI can break it down in a way that a textbook may not.
2. Supporting English Language Learners
In Rwanda, many learners are still building confidence in English. AI can help them practice without fear of making mistakes. Tools like Grammarly can correct their writing instantly.
3. Teachers Save Time and Share Resources
Preparing lesson plans for large classes takes long hours. With AI, teachers can generate draft exercises, then adapt them. A teacher in Huye, for example, can prepare a quiz with AI and share it with another teacher in Nyamagabe. This reduces workload and encourages collaboration.
In fact, as I explained in my post on how teachers can adapt to change in education, technology is already transforming classrooms, AI is simply the next step.
4. Access to Quality Content for Rural Areas
Even in schools without libraries, AI can provide materials if at least one device is available. Instead of waiting for textbooks, a teacher can print AI-generated exercises and share them in class.
The Dark Side: How AI Might Widen Inequality
But let’s be honest. AI is not always a magic solution. If not handled carefully, it can make education more unequal.
1. Access and Infrastructure Problems
Not all students have smartphones, laptops, or internet at home. In Rwanda, urban learners may enjoy technology, but many rural learners still rely on chalkboards and textbooks.
2. Risk of Shortcut Learning
AI can give ready answers. Some students may copy without thinking. This kills creativity and deep understanding. Instead of learning how to solve a problem, they may just depend on AI’s answer.
3. Language and Cultural Barriers
Most AI tools work best in English. When learners try in Kinyarwanda, the answers are not always accurate. This creates a challenge for younger students who are still learning English.
4. Teacher Knowledge Gap
Some teachers are not yet trained in digital literacy. If AI is introduced without training, teachers may feel left behind while students in urban schools move faster.
Rwanda’s Context: Where We Stand
Rwanda is moving fast in digital education. Programs like Smart Classrooms, One Laptop per Child, and NGO projects like ProFuturo in Rwanda are supporting schools with devices and training.
But there are still big gaps between rural and urban schools. Some rural areas have no stable electricity or internet. In such places, introducing AI without solving access problems may leave many learners behind.
Also, while Rwanda promotes English as the medium of instruction, many teachers and learners are still building confidence. AI could help but only if teachers are trained to guide its use.
What Teachers Can Do: Practical Tips
Teachers are the bridge between AI and learners. Here are practical steps every teacher can take:
1. Use AI as a Support, Not a Replacement
Do not let students depend only on AI answers. Instead, use AI to generate practice questions, summaries, or explanations, then guide learners to reflect.
2. Share AI-Generated Materials with All Learners
If only some students have phones, print or project AI exercises so the whole class benefits. This prevents inequality inside one classroom.
3. Encourage Group Work with AI
Instead of “every learner on their phone,” try “group AI use”. For example, one group uses AI to generate examples, another group checks and improves them, then the whole class discusses.
4. Teach Critical Thinking
Tell students: “AI can make mistakes. Always ask: Is this answer correct? Does it make sense?” This way, learners don’t follow AI blindly.
5. Continue Peer Learning Among Teachers
Communities of Practice (CoPs) like the one I described in my reflections on teacher collaboration are perfect spaces for teachers to share AI tips. Teachers can learn together, test tools, and create local guidelines.
Way Forward: Policy and Practice
For Rwanda to use AI fairly in education, several steps are needed:
- Teacher Training: Every teacher should receive training on how to use AI in lesson planning and teaching.
- Infrastructure: Rural schools need better internet, devices, and electricity.
- Local Language Support: AI tools should improve Kinyarwanda and French content to be more inclusive.
- Partnerships: NGOs, government, and teacher groups should work together so no school is left behind.
As UNESCO reminds us, digital education should promote equity, inclusion, and quality learning for all.
Conclusion: The Teacher’s Role
Generative AI is like a double-edged sword. It can be a bridge to equality or a wall that divides learners. The difference depends on us, the teachers.
We are the ones who can make sure AI is used fairly, shared equally, and guided wisely. If we work together, AI can help every learner, from Kigali to the most rural corner of Rwanda, to reach their dreams.
So let’s embrace it, but with caution, with fairness, and with a teacher’s heart.
If you’d like more, I also recommend my earlier reflection on how repetition improves learner understanding, because repetition and AI together could make a powerful learning tool.
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