Adesua: AI-driven WhatsApp bot for science education in West Africa
A new AI-driven WhatsApp bot named Adesua has been developed and tested in West Africa to provide students with access to personalised tutoring support in science subjects.
What happened?
Adesua is a WhatsApp-based AI teaching assistant for science education, developed as an extension of the 'Kwame for Science' platform. Designed for junior and senior high school students in West Africa, the system uses generative AI to provide curriculum-aligned support. It integrates textbooks and historical national examination data spanning 33 years to enable conversational queries and automated assessment with detailed feedback.
Key facts
| Plattform | |
|---|---|
| Målgrupp | Högstadie- och gymnasieelever i Västafrika |
| Inkluderat material | Läroböcker & 33 års nationella examensfrågor |
”Sub-Saharan Africa faces persistently high student-teacher ratios and shortages of qualified teachers, limiting students' access to personalized learning support and formative assessment.”
”Adesua leverages WhatsApp's widespread adoption in Africa to provide accessible, curriculum-aligned learning support for Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) students across West Africa.”
Why it matters
The development of Adesua addresses the challenge of high student-teacher ratios and the shortage of qualified educators in Sub-Saharan Africa. By leveraging the widespread use of WhatsApp in the region, the bot provides accessible tutoring that complements traditional classroom instruction, offering students opportunities for personalised feedback and practice outside of school hours.
Who is affected?
Secondary school students (JHS and SHS) in West Africa are the primary users. Teachers and educational institutions also benefit from the tool as a supplement to existing resources. Furthermore, the accompanying report provides insights for stakeholders working at the intersection of education and technology in developing countries.
Impact on the EU
Not applicable to EU status. The system is specifically developed for West Africa and its regional educational frameworks.
What else you should know
The bot allows students to pose scientific questions, take timed or untimed multiple-choice quizzes by subject or exam year, and obtain instant grading with detailed explanations for correct and incorrect answers. A preliminary study based on six months of user data indicated increased student engagement.
Quick answers about this story
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Vilka ämnen täcker Adesua?
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