Embracing AI: A new era for South Africa’s classrooms – The Citizen

The matric class of 2024 delivered a remarkable 87.3% pass rate—an achievement worth celebrating in South Africa. But as thousands of young adults step out of school gates and into the real world, a pressing question looms: Are they truly prepared for what lies ahead?
Youth unemployment, though slightly declining in 2024, remains concentrated in sectors that require limited skills, like construction and trade. Meanwhile, countless formal jobs go unfilled, highlighting a troubling mismatch between the skills matriculants possess and those the job market demands.
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Shaun Fuchs, the visionary founder of Centennial Schools in Sandton, believes it’s time to confront a hard truth: South Africa’s traditional education system isn’t evolving fast enough. “The majority of our matriculants are ill-equipped for today’s tech-driven world,” he says. But Fuchs also sees hope—in the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
AI: The classroom revolution
As AI continues to reshape industries, Fuchs argues that education must harness its power to prepare pupils for a rapidly changing future. From enhancing individual learning paths to fostering critical skills like problem-solving and creativity, AI tools offer a new way to bridge South Africa’s skills gap.
Fuchs identifies five key areas where AI could revolutionise the classroom:
1. Personalised learning
AI platforms can track student progress, pinpoint weak spots, and tailor learning experiences to individual needs. This means no learner is left behind, and every pupil has the tools to excel at their own pace.
2. Social-emotional learning (SEL)
Beyond academic success, schools must prepare pupils emotionally and socially for life’s challenges. AI-powered tools can monitor behaviours, helping educators step in when pupils need extra support.
3. Sustainability and environmental awareness
With climate change dominating global conversations, Centennial Schools uses AI-driven simulations to immerse pupils in real-world environmental challenges. Learners are tasked with developing innovative, practical solutions, building a sense of responsibility for the planet.
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4. Hybrid learning for a hybrid world
The pandemic cemented hybrid work as a fixture of the modern economy. AI-driven tools ensure pupils are ready, offering personalised pathways and real-time feedback while addressing challenges like isolation.
5. STEAM skills for the future
AI is making science, technology, engineering, art, and maths more accessible than ever. From coding to machine learning, pupils engage in hands-on experiences that teach critical thinking and creative problem-solving—skills in high demand across the globe.
Preparing for a lifetime of learning
Fuchs emphasises that the future workforce will demand more than traditional roles; people will juggle multiple jobs and ever-evolving responsibilities. “AI offers a pathway for lifelong upskilling and reskilling,” he says. At Centennial Schools, the focus is on equipping pupils with the tools to thrive in this new reality.
While AI may never replace the value of a human-led education, Fuchs believes it’s crucial to embrace the possibilities it brings. “The technology is advancing rapidly,” he warns, “and what seems far-fetched today could become the norm tomorrow.”
As South Africa grapples with youth unemployment and a widening skills gap, integrating AI into education could be the key to unlocking a more prosperous, equitable future. The challenge now is not whether we can afford to embrace AI but whether we can afford not to.
South Africa’s education system stands at a crossroads, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a powerful tool to shape a more skilled and adaptable workforce.
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