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Eswatini Introduces Controversial AI Teaching Assistants
April 9, 2024
CategoryAfrica Central
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((INTRO))
[[A small school in rural Eswatini is hoping to take advantage of artificial intelligence to help its students learn better. But some teachers are not on board. Nokukhanya Musi [[Noh- Khu-Khanya Muh-See]] reports from Mvutjini.
((NARRATOR)) ((V/O Gwebu/students at school))
Melusi Gwebu [[ Meh-loo-see Gweh-bhu]] is a student at Somnjalose [[So-um-ja-loh-seh]] High School in Eswatini, which is incorporating some new artificial intelligence technology called Nomfundo [[No-um-foon-doh]] AI into the classroom.
He hasn’t used it yet, but he says he is excited about the possibilities the technology offers.
((Melusi Gwebu, Student)) ((Male, English))
“Nomfundo is a great application for us students since it can help us in our educational and academic stuff. She can also give us notes. She is also useful to teachers too. We can go far with Nomfundo."
[[VIDEO: Drone shots of the lush green landscape in Mvutjini and the Mdzimba as a backdrop.]]
((NARRATOR))
Nomfundo AI is a digital assistant that helps teachers create lesson plans and tests. For students, it offers question analysis, note-taking capabilities, and research assistance.
It is part of an initiative from Schools Online Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing technology and innovation to the education sector in Eswatini. Nomfundo AI is the latest addition to its arsenal of tools.
[[Video: Wide shot of Lungelo talking to teachers and students about the benefits of Nomfundo, the AI program]]
[[Radio track: Lungelo Dlamini [[Loon-gel-oh Dlah-mee-nee]] is Founder and Director of Schools Online Foundation.]]
((Lungelo Dlamini, director of the Schools Online Foundation)) ((Male, English))
"Nomfundo is meant to provide services to teachers to enable them to have maximum time with their students. This is a system that will work hand in hand with educators and students."
((V/O Eswatini school students))
((NARRATOR))
World Bank data suggest that about 50 to 57 percent of Eswatini primary school students are meeting at least half the basic standards of math, English or science.
Teachers here recognize the problem, but many aren’t convinced that Nomfundo AI is the answer to Eswatini's educational challenges. The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (4) has argued that the country's education sector is simply not ready.
[[Radio track, Lot Vilakati [[Lott Vee-lah-kah-tee]] is Secretary General of the association]]
((Lot Vilakati, secretary general of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers)) ((Male, English))
"In terms of technology, we are behind such that you still find people who are finding it difficult to use a simple calculator. As much as we are heading for that, but the school system is not ready because we should also try to put the teacher into speed in terms of how it will going to work"
((V/O Students in Eswatini at computers))
((NARRATOR)) But Somnjalose High School officials say they are going ahead with the plan to lead by example and show what AI can do for them and their students.
((Nokukhaya Musi, VOA News, Mvutjini, Eswatini))
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