Inappropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) materials has been identified as a major factor undermining effective curriculum delivery in Bauchi State schools.
The Executive Director of Zabiya Ruth Foundation, Ms. Rauter Joseph, raised this concern during a quiz competition organised by the foundation for secondary schools across the state.
According to Ms. Joseph, the competition was aimed at testing students’ intellectual abilities, promoting unity among them, and helping them build confidence to speak publicly.
“The main reason I decided to organise this quiz is because I found out that such academic engagements are being neglected. Many schools are lagging behind, especially in subjects like Mathematics and English. The quiz is to test their knowledge and bring them together so they can learn from one another,” she said.
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She, however, lamented that many teachers now rely heavily on AI-generated materials that do not align with the curriculum or scheme of work provided by the Ministry of Education.
“Most of the curriculum now doesn’t tally with the scheme of work. Some of the questions are not even found in the textbooks, and teachers resort to using AI. I want to encourage the government to review the curriculum so it can better serve the students,” Joseph added.
She disclosed that the ongoing quiz competition is being held across various local government areas of Bauchi State, including Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro, and Bauchi, and will culminate in a grand final where winners from the zonal levels will compete.
Ms. Joseph also called on other organisations to collaborate with her foundation to promote academic excellence in the state.
“It’s not easy, but with collective effort we can make a big difference. A tree cannot make a forest, but together we can build one,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr. Kuulwaamsu Esly Yohana, a representative of Child is Gold Foundation and one of the quiz judges, criticised the growing dependence of teachers and students on AI tools for academic purposes.
“Most of our teachers no longer stick to the official scheme of work. They rely on AI to prepare their notes, and that affects the students’ understanding. AI does not know the curriculum designed for our state or country,” Yohana noted.
He urged the Bauchi State Ministry of Education to conduct more training for teachers to help them effectively integrate technology into teaching without neglecting approved educational standards.
“Teachers need more training on how to balance AI use with the curriculum. Also, their incentives and welfare should be improved so they can perform better,” he advised.
Yohana revealed that during the competition, many students struggled particularly in English and Mathematics, underscoring the need for schools to prioritise those subjects.
“We encourage schools to organise internal quiz competitions regularly to challenge their students and improve academic performance,” he concluded.
The quiz competition featured participants from several secondary schools, including Government Secondary School Bauchi, and was part of Zabiya Ruth Foundation’s initiative to improve educational standards across the state.
