Dar es Salaam. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) steadily reshapes service delivery across sectors, including education, Tanzania now finds itself at a crossroads, The Citizen can report.
A growing debate is emerging over how to harness AI’s potential in classrooms without compromising the development of students’ critical thinking skills.
The conversation gains momentum as The Citizen conducted a nationwide survey on AI’s increasing presence in Tanzania’s education system.
While educators and policymakers praise its transformative power, others warn of a troubling trend: students becoming overly dependent on AI tools for learning, risking the erosion of independent thought.
"What happens when students rely too much on AI to do their thinking? How do we ensure that learning remains a mentally engaging process?"
These are just some of the questions surfacing as digital tools become integrated into everyday academic work—from assignments to exam preparation.
An education technology researcher at the University of Dar es Salaam, Ms Lilian Mkumbo, said the country must act fast to set boundaries. “AI has the ability to enhance learning, yes—but without proper discipline and guidance, it could hinder the growth of essential cognitive skills,” she said.
The issue, she noted, "is not with AI itself, but with how we let students use it. We risk raising a generation that can follow instructions but not innovate.”
But, amid the growing concerns, the ministry of Education, Science and Technology recently launched the National Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence in Education, a framework that is part of the broader National Digital Education Strategy 2024/25 – 2029/30.
The guidelines aim to strike a balance—promoting responsible AI use in schools while safeguarding traditional learning values. They also draw from key national frameworks, including the Tanzania National ICT Policy 2016 and the Education and Training Policy of 2014, revised in 2023. According to the new directives, every educational institution—from primary to higher education—is now required to develop its own AI use framework.
These must address privacy, security, ethics, and student well-being, with regular reviews to stay aligned with technological changes.
AI is being widely recognised for its benefits. Experts say it enables personalised learning, automates assessments, reduces administrative tasks for teachers, and provides assistive tools for learners with disabilities—such as text-to-speech and translation features.
Globally, countries like the United States and China have already made strides in embedding AI into their educational systems, improving accessibility and adaptability in learning. In Tanzania, AI is slowly making its way into classrooms, offering promise in bridging the teacher-student ratio gap and improving learning outcomes.
Yet, an education psychologist, Dr Jonas Mbele, raised a red flag: “Overreliance on AI can dull a student’s intellectual curiosity. Struggling with a concept helps develop reasoning skills. When that struggle is skipped through AI, a critical part of learning is lost.”
For Tanzania—a country with ambitions of becoming a knowledge-driven economy—this raises long-term risks.
To address this, the government is prioritizing AI literacy in school curricula. The goal is to ensure that both teachers and students understand not just how to use AI, but also the ethical, social, and cognitive implications of its use.
The guidelines recommend a blended learning approach, where AI supports—not replaces—human teaching and reasoning.
According to the government, teachers are receiving professional development training to integrate AI responsibly while nurturing students’ originality and deep thinking.
“These tools should enhance education, not diminish it,” said Prof Carolyne Nombo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education.
“That’s why the guidelines emphasize inclusive access, especially for schools in remote and underserved areas. No learner should be left behind due to their location or socio-economic status.”
Public awareness campaigns, workshops, and seminars are also being rolled out to encourage responsible AI use.
Another area of focus is data protection. With AI applications collecting and processing vast amounts of student data, the guidelines stress transparency in how this information is handled.
As AI becomes a permanent fixture in Tanzanian education, the real test will be in finding the right balance.
Used well, experts believe, it could be a powerful tool to level the learning field and improve education for all. But if misused or left unchecked, it risks creating a generation of learners who rely on machines instead of mastering how to think.
