THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

Access to quality education remains a significant challenge for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, where infrastructural limitations, societal attitudes, and resource constraints hinder inclusive learning. Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) offer promising solutions to bridge these gaps by providing accessible, personalized, and scalable educational tools. AI-driven technologies such as speech recognition, text-to-speech systems, sign language translation, and adaptive learning platforms have demonstrated the potential to enhance educational inclusion for learners with diverse disabilities. This project explores the current landscape of AI deployment in education within the region, evaluating both opportunities and challenges. It examines how AI can address infrastructural barriers, support inclusive pedagogies, and promote independent learning among students with disabilities. Despite its potential, several obstacles impede widespread adoption, including limited technological infrastructure, language barriers, high costs, lack of local content, and insufficient technical capacity among educators and policymakers. Furthermore, ethical considerations such as data privacy and cultural relevance must be carefully managed. This study emphasizes the importance of context-specific solutions, collaborative efforts among governments, NGOs, and technology providers, and capacity-building initiatives to foster sustainable integration of AI in education. Ultimately, leveraging AI effectively can significantly improve educational outcomes for PWDs in Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to social inclusion, economic empowerment, and the realization of inclusive education goals aligned with SDG 4. This research underscores the transformative potential of AI in creating equitable learning environments, despite the region’s unique challenges.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Inclusive Education, Persons with Disabilities,Sub-Saharan Africa 
and Educational Technology