Study Shows AI Tutoring Tool Lifts Math Scores in Sierra Leone
An eight-week study of nearly 1,800 junior secondary students in Sierra Leone found that those using Gemini's Guided Learning tool improved their math scores by 0.26 standard deviations on externally validated assessments. That gain equals 1.2 to 1.7 years of typical learning progress in low-and-middle-income countries.
Students who used the tool for at least 12 hours saw larger gains of 0.38 standard deviations-enough to move an average student from the middle of their class to the top third. The average student spent 15 hours with the tool across the trial period.
One teacher in the study said: "With the introduction of Gemini, most students now love maths because the app is teaching them step by step."
The randomized controlled trial was conducted by Google in partnership with Fab AI and local teachers in 48 math classrooms.
Reducing Teacher Workload Across Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa has more than 60% of its population under 25, and by 2030 more than a third of the world's youth will live on the continent. Teachers across the region often work with limited resources and growing class sizes.
Google is partnering with UNICEF and supported by Google.org to provide AI tools and training to millions of teachers and students in Kenya, Brazil, India, and Pakistan. In Kenya, UNICEF is working with the government and the Institute of Curriculum Development to integrate Gemini for Education and NotebookLM into the country's new curriculum.
The goal is to give teachers better tools for lesson planning and reduce administrative work so they can spend more time with students.
Building AI Literacy in Universities
Google has partnered with the African Union Commission to bring Gemini for Education, NotebookLM, and related training to universities across all 55 Member States. Participating institutions include the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Ghana, and Universities South Africa.
The partnership aims to train at least 150,000 students and faculty by 2027.
Ghana Signs AI Education Agreement
Ghana's Ministry of Education signed a memorandum of understanding with Google during the Education World Forum in London in June 2026. The agreement aims to integrate Google's AI technologies into Ghanaian schools to move beyond basic digital literacy and build AI fluency for both educators and students.
For educators looking to understand how AI tools fit into teaching practice, the AI Learning Path for Teachers offers structured guidance on practical applications.
Learn more about AI for Education and its role in classrooms worldwide.
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