AI news ·
Nick Clegg joins advisory board of AI English teaching startup targeting state schools in developing countries
Efekta Education Group is bringing AI English lessons to state schools in 15 countries at $5 per student per year. Students in Brazil scored 25-30% higher on state tests, the company says.
AI-powered English lessons expand to 15 countries, backed by former UK deputy PM
Efekta Education Group, a spinoff from Education First, is rolling out AI language lessons to state schools across emerging markets. The company now operates in Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Rwanda, with pilot programs in 15 additional countries.
Nick Clegg, former UK deputy prime minister and Meta's ex-president of global affairs, joined Efekta's advisory board this year.
The company sells its product for $5 per student annually-the cost of a textbook. In Brazil, where 95% of the population doesn't speak English, students using Efekta's software scored 25 to 30% better on state tests, according to the company.
Built for teacher shortages
Education First created Efekta in 2022 after the Brazilian government approached it to address a severe teacher shortage. CEO Stephen Hodges said the company "never built this technology with an intent to sell it." The initial AI agent was designed for EF schools before expanding to government systems.
The software operates without internet in rural areas, updating when connectivity returns. This design choice proved critical for deployment in Rwanda and remote Brazilian schools where reliable connectivity is limited.
Data collection and teacher oversight
Efekta collects data strictly limited to learning outcomes-whether students complete tasks and how they perform. Conversations between students and the AI chatbot are not recorded, except in cases flagged for student welfare concerns like self-harm or distress.
Hodges said "all the classes will have a human teacher at the heart of it, and the teacher remains in control." The company follows national curriculum guidelines and operates under General Data Protection Regulation principles.
When asked about political safeguards, Hodges said those conversations "have not come up."
Emerging markets lead adoption
Hodges argued that emerging markets will pioneer AI in education because they "have the most to gain" and "very few options." These regions also provide scale-more student data allows for better optimization of learning outcomes.
Clegg called the approach a "dramatic democratisation of high-quality education." He acknowledged that AI is data-driven technology. "Data is its fuel," he said. "Otherwise, it just doesn't work."
Efekta plans to expand beyond English to STEM subjects. Clegg noted that immersive learning makes it easier to teach subjects compared to traditional textbooks.
Against the global trend
Efekta's expansion contrasts with Sweden's policy shift. Sweden, once a global leader in educational technology, is mandating textbook-based learning from 2028 after nearly a quarter of 15-16-year-olds failed to reach basic reading comprehension standards in 2022.
For educators working with AI tools, understanding how these systems are deployed-and their limitations-matters. Learn more about AI applications in teaching or explore resources on AI for Education.