A former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei has spoken about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern education.
He spoke at the recent Graphic National Development Series (GNDS) event at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
He advocated for students in Ghana to embrace AI as a learning tool, warning against limiting its use in schools.
According to Prof. Adei, banning AI would be detrimental to educational progress and could hinder students’ ability to compete in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Prof. Adei stressed the importance of rethinking how AI can be integrated into educational systems. Rather than banning it, educators should adapt their teaching methods to ensure students can critically engage with the information provided by AI.
He pointed out that AI, while efficient in gathering and processing information, lacks the ability to think critically or analyze information deeply.
For this reason, he argued that educators should design questions that demand more than just fact retrieval and push students toward independent thought and reflection.
Drawing on personal experience, Prof. Adei shared an example where he tested AI’s limits by asking a question only to receive a response stating, “I’m only a machine.”
This illustrated AI’s inability to grasp deeper concepts, a crucial aspect of critical thinking that students must develop.
He encouraged teachers to craft assignments that require students to go beyond what AI can offer, cultivating their analytical and reflective skills.
In addition, Prof. Adei pointed to Ashesi University as an example of how educational institutions can responsibly use AI.
At Ashesi, students in engineering courses use AI-driven tools to solve practical problems, such as developing robots for agricultural tasks.
Prof. Adei suggested that other universities should follow Ashesi’s example by integrating technologies like Chromebooks to better equip students for future challenges.
Prof. Adei also compared current resistance to AI in education to the Luddite movement, which opposed the technological advancements during the industrial revolution.
He warned that rejecting AI would be a backward step for education, limiting students’ potential.
“The issue is not AI itself,” he noted, “but how we catch up and create opportunities for students to apply AI responsibly while also engaging in more practical tasks.”
In conclusion, Prof. Adei called for a more responsible and progressive approach to AI in education, emphasizing that while AI can enhance learning, it should never replace the need for human ingenuity and critical thinking.
