Kenya Urged to Back Global AI-in-Education Framework as Student Use Surges
New report warns policy is lagging; calls for AI to enhance the work of teachers
Kenya, 21 November 2025 - A new HP Futures Report says Kenya should support a global framework to govern how AI is used in schools. The study shows AI is now embedded in student life: over 60% of learners worldwide use AI tools daily for research and assignments.
The report surveyed 2,860 students across 21 countries and found strong demand for oversight. Seventy-one percent want clear limits on AI in education systems. "AI can unlock personalised, high-quality learning for billions. But to achieve that potential, adoption must be responsible and thoughtful," said David McQuarrie, HP's Chief Commercial Officer and Chair of HP Futures. He warned that the pace of change is outpacing existing policies.
HP Futures urges Kenya and other governments to support a mandatory Global AI in Education Charter focused on ethical, safe integration. Priorities include learner-data ownership, stronger protection for children online, and bans on exploitative data-harvesting practices. The initiative, led by HP Inc. with partners including the Global Learning Council and T4 Education, calls for clear global standards that systems can apply locally. Learn more about the Global Learning Council's work on responsible learning technologies here.
The report was developed with input from diverse councils representing multiple regions and backgrounds. These groups held extensive discussions to produce practical recommendations for governments, school leaders, and educators preparing to adopt AI.
Mayank Dhingra, HP's Global Head of Education Business and Strategy, underscored that any rollout must be grounded in classroom realities. "We are entering a defining moment for education," he said. "We call on Kenyan policymakers, and leaders globally, to approach AI implementation with purpose and ensure that teachers and learners are at the heart of decision-making."
What Kenya's education leaders can do now
- Publish a national AI-in-education stance that sets clear boundaries for use, privacy, safety, and academic integrity. Keep it short, enforceable, and updated on a fixed schedule.
- Guarantee equitable access to essential AI tools and connectivity so AI does not widen existing gaps between schools or regions.
- Commit to "AI supports teachers" as a design rule. Fund time, training, and coaching so AI improves planning, feedback, and assessment without adding workload.
- Involve educators early. Run classroom pilots with teacher unions, school heads, and ICT leads before any procurement or national rollout.
- Give students a formal voice in AI policy and school-level use. Include student councils in pilots, policy reviews, and feedback loops.
- Run nationwide AI-readiness assessments before buying tools. Check infrastructure, data protection maturity, teacher skills, and change-management capacity.
- Fast-track AI literacy for policymakers, school administrators, and university leaders to keep pace with new tools and risks.
- Require strong data governance: clear data-minimization, opt-in consent for minors, no hidden data capture, and vendor contracts that prohibit secondary data use.
- Set procurement guardrails: independent efficacy evidence, transparent model behavior, age-appropriate design, and red lines for bias and safety.
- Publish simple classroom guidelines on allowed AI use (research help, drafting, coding support) and what requires disclosure or is off-limits.
For context on international guidance, see UNESCO's work on AI in education here. For leaders planning rapid skills development, explore role-based AI learning paths at Complete AI Training.
HP Futures positions AI as a tool that should enhance, not replace, the work of teachers. The message is clear: move fast, set firm guardrails, and put educators and learners at the center of every decision.
Smart learning where AI enhances the work of a teacher in a modern classroom | Credit: Dawan Africa
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