• Zambia signed a memorandum of understanding with UK-based Obrizum Group Ltdto integrate artificial intelligence into its education system.
• The project will launch a pilot program for secondary school students in April 2026before expanding to technical and vocational training institutions.
• The initiative aims to address skills mismatches and weak education outcomes in a country where the median age is 18.2 years.

The Zambian government signed a memorandum of agreement with UK-based Obrizum Group Ltdto pilot the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. The Ministry of Technology and Science disclosed the agreement in an official statement published on March 9.

Authorities signed the agreement in Lusaka and will initially target secondary school students. The government plans to expand the program later to technical, vocational and entrepreneurship training institutions (TEVET). Officials scheduled the launch of the pilot phase for mid-April 2026.

The initiative will deploy AI-driven learning platforms capable of analyzing students’ needs and abilities in real time in order to tailor educational content accordingly.

Chibeza Agley, Chief Executive Officer of Obrizum Group, said the partnership “will focus on AI-based learning solutions designed to transform the educational experience for learners and teachers.”

He added that the project “will demonstrate how technology-enabled learning can improve efficiency, academic outcomes and better prepare graduates for the demands of the modern labor market.”

Obrizum Group, which maintains academic links with the University of Cambridge, provides technological expertise and research backing to the initiative. Felix Mutati, Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, said the collaboration “positions the project to introduce globally competitive learning solutions in Zambia.” Mutati said the project aims to reduce disparities in access to quality education across the country. “The quality of education must not be determined by geographic location,” Mutati said, noting that students in remote rural areas should have access to the same educational resources as those in urban schools.

The analytical data generated by the AI tools will allow teachers to design learning experiences tailored to each student’s individual capabilities. In this framework, teachers will shift toward a more strategic role as coordinators of personalized learning.

The initiative comes at a time when Zambia’s education system faces significant structural challenges. A recent study by UNICEFshows that the transition rate from primary school to secondary education stands at 63%, mainly due to insufficient school capacity.

Only 46.8% of secondary studentsprogress to higher education or technical training, a gap that disproportionately affects girls who face risks such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy. At the same time, learning outcomes remain weak. UNICEF reports that average scores among Grade 5 students reach only 34.97% in English and 31.07% in mathematics.

These challenges weigh heavily on the labor market in a country where the median age stands at just 18.2 years, according to United Nations data for 2024. 

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum