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A pioneering eight-week education pilot using Google DeepMind’s Gemini AI in Sierra Leone has yielded extraordinary results, accelerating math learning by the equivalent of nearly two years.
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Conrad Sackey announced the milestone, detailing the successful integration of the advanced AI model into 48 junior secondary classrooms in the Port Loko district.
The initiative, which paired students on shared tablets to solve problems collaboratively, resulted in a 0.26 standard deviation increase in mathematics outcomes—a leap that education officials described as extraordinary.
“This isn’t just about handing technology to children; it’s about shifting how they learn,” said Minister Conrad Sackey in a public statement. “Through a collaborative learning model, students shared tablets, solved complex problems in pairs, and turned math into a team sport.”
According to the ministry, the program was explicitly designed to remain teacher-led, with the AI tool serving as a digital assistant to reinforce challenging concepts. Crucially, officials said, the system benefited boys and girls equally, with no gender gap in learning gains.
The pilot was implemented with support from EducAid, Oxford MeasureEd, and Laterite, alongside field monitors who provided real-time classroom support.
“Sierra Leone is proving to the world that we are not just passive consumers of modern tech—we are innovative pioneers,” Sackey said. “Together, we are rewriting the narrative of what is possible for our children.”
Public reaction to the announcement included questions about future expansion. Commenter Abubakarr Yillah asked the minister whether the technology would be integrated nationwide to benefit every child.
Minister Sackey has not yet indicated whether the pilot will lead to a full rollout.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J3NQfYq2V/
