An education technology specialist and implementation partner of the Darsel Learning Platform, Wunmi Tolu-Alalade, has highlighted Artificial Intelligence as a crucial driver for the future of academic development.
She called on governments at all levels to prioritise the integration of AI in teaching and learning mathematics.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement session with educators and policymakers at Lagelu Grammar School in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, Tolu-Alalade emphasized the importance of digital learning innovations in addressing the persistent challenge of poor mathematics performance among junior secondary school students.
“The AI-powered Darsel Learn-by-Text Chatbot provides an interactive, practice-driven learning environment aligned with Nigeria’s national mathematics curriculum for Basic 7 to Basic 9 (JSS1-3) learners,” she said.
She further explained, “The system allows students to solve mathematics problems through a WhatsApp-based chatbot, making it accessible even to learners without computers or high-end digital devices. If we want different results in mathematics education, we must adopt different methods. Artificial intelligence allows students to practise daily, build confidence, and learn independently while still supporting classroom teachers.”
Tolu-Alalade also noted that the AI platform generates performance reports for teachers, helping them pinpoint areas of difficulty and implement targeted interventions.
“Teachers can see student progress in real time. They know where a learner is struggling and can step in strategically. AI is not replacing teachers; it is empowering them,” she explained.
She urged governments to back EdTech partnerships, expand AI pilot programmes in public schools, and encourage parents to facilitate supervised daily practice, even if for brief periods.
Supporting the initiative, Bosede Abiodun, a director in the Mathematics and Technical Department of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, described it as a forward-thinking intervention with the potential to transform students’ attitudes toward mathematics.
“In many testimonies we’ve received, students who once feared mathematics are now more confident. The AI approach makes learning engaging and less intimidating,” she said, adding that policy and financial support would be essential to scaling the programme.
Mathematics teacher, Fowotade Adeniyi, shared practical insights on the system’s impact in the classroom, “When students answer correctly, the chatbot responds with encouraging words like ‘Excellent’ and ‘Well done.’ When they get it wrong, it gives hints before the solution. This motivates them. Many who feared mathematics now attempt questions confidently.”
