Ministry of Education AI Challenge
Exploring how AI can strengthen education service delivery in practice with ministries of education
AI has the potential to transform education, but only if it is used responsibly and effectively. Through EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory and our exciting Ministry of Education AI Challenge, we are working with governments to explore practical applications, assess risks and opportunities, and share evidence on what works to support more equitable learning outcomes.
Follow along to see what is taking shape and who is helping make it happen.
On this page ➜
About ➜
When education systems function well, they create the right conditions for learning. This comes straight from the World Bank’s 2018 report on realising education’s promise.
We’re now launching the Ministries of Education AI Challenge. It’s not about building shiny new tools for the sake of it—it’s about generating real-world evidence on whether AI can help education systems work better.
Our hypothesis is: if ministries and district officials are equipped to use AI effectively, they can deliver more with less, faster.
We’re exploring:
- does investing in AI for service delivery actually work?
- where does AI have greater or lesser impact?
- which services should we prioritise and how can we unlock momentum within Ministries to make it happen?
Spotlight on the Participating Ministries ➜
Ministry of Education, Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, we are on the verge of transforming how we understand and support every learner. Our upcoming National Assessment Platform, led by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), will track each child’s progress from primary to secondary school, creating a real-time picture of learning across the country.
Through this challenge, we want to give that platform a powerful boost with artificial intelligence (AI). Imagine a system that can gently alert teachers when a student might be falling behind, recommend lessons that fit a learner’s unique needs, highlight where classrooms need extra attention, and help decision-makers see exactly where to send resources—instantly and accurately. We will pilot tools that can:
Spot early signs of students at risk of dropping out.
Recommend lessons tailored to each learner’s needs.
Provide insights on teaching quality and classroom engagement.
Give education managers real-time dashboards for better resource planning.
We want every decision in education to be guided by the right information. This includes decisions in the classroom, such as how to support students, and national policies that shape the future of education.
Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria
Through this challenge, we hope to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied to improve data management and decision-making in education. Our aim is to strengthen the use of digital tools to better organise, analyse and utilise education data for planning and policy. While the central data repository is still being developed, we are keen to focus on practical areas where AI can support the efficiency, accuracy and accessibility of information, ultimately enhancing citizen-centric service delivery in the education sector.
Department of Education, Philippines
As the Education Centre for AI Research (ECAIR), we are participating in this challenge to achieve several key goals that are vital to our mission.
First, we aim to expand our professional network and gain international exposure for our AI research and development (R&D) work. This platform will help us share our progress and publish findings, establishing ECAIR as a leader in AI for education. This is especially critical given our manpower constraints, as it allows us to showcase our work and attract potential partners and talent from abroad.
Second, a crucial objective is to secure budget and resources for operational costs. This includes covering expenses for essential services such as cloud computing and software licences, which are necessary for the development and deployment of our AI solutions.
Finally, we see this as an opportunity to benchmark ourselves against leading institutions in the UK. We want to understand their best practices in AI R&D and institutional development. This visit would be invaluable, providing us with insights to better structure our own operations and maximise our impact.
By meeting these goals, we can continue to create innovative technologies that improve education for students and teachers across the country.
Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Pakistan
We aim to develop an AI-driven app to administer Foundational Learning Assessments to children across Pakistan. The app will leverage voice-recognition AI technologies, such as Facebook’s Wav2Vec or Google’s Read Along, to evaluate children’s basic reading and mathematical abilities. This initiative seeks to reduce costs, improve the accuracy of foundational learning reporting, and lessen our dependence on external expertise for conducting such assessments.
Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, Sierra Leone
Through this challenge, we aim to explore how AI and technology tools can strengthen the work of the Delivery Team within the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. Specifically, we want to develop practical tools that improve how we track progress, generate reports and share insights, while also building our internal capacity to use AI and technology effectively. This will help us to work more efficiently and make better use of data.
What is the opportunity ➜
The Challenge begins with discovery. Selected teams will take part in a process to design and test practical AI-powered services. As part of this, teams will work with coaches and global experts to identify impactful service delivery issues, and develop a roadmap for how AI might be tested in these.
Over time, teams will prioritise an issue to focus on, then generate ideas and develop prototypes. By working with AI experts, they will be able to define experiments through real-world user tests and by gaining insights. As they progress, teams will refine their AI roadmap, making changes and decisions as they gain a deeper understanding of tools, platforms, and interventions.
EdTech Hub will support teams to build coalitions, engage leadership, and continue the work beyond the lifespan of our support. We will also connect participants with peers across governments, build collective intelligence, and accelerate the uptake of good ideas. The Challenge runs from August 2025 to March 2026 to help achieve these goals.
This is not about polished solutions. The programme is designed to support exploration, learning, and rapid prototyping, with expert help throughout.
Related events and webinars ➜
