Senior High School teachers in Ghana are being encouraged to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technology to improve teaching and learning in classrooms.

This came up during a major training workshop organised by the Ghana Science Association at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. The programme brought together over one hundred and fifty (150) teachers in the Ashanti region to learn how AI can support education and prepare students for the future.

Experts at the workshop said AI is already changing classrooms around the world and teachers must be ready to use these tools effectively.

Head of Department of Food Science and Technology and former President of the university's branch of the Association, Professor Jacob Agbenorhevi, said technology should support human intelligence, not replace it.

According to him, every generation has adopted new tools to make work easier, and AI is simply the latest step in that journey.

“From time to time we see new skill tools that come for us to use in our everyday life. Recently it is AI… If one is not abreast with these tools, it will be difficult impacting the future generation. So as teachers, it is important for us to get abreast with these tools, how to use them and teach others,” he said.

Prof. Agbenorhevi stressed that people must use AI responsibly. “A tool should not make you lazy but it will make you do things faster or better. It does not mean you are going to throw away your human intelligence… it is like using a hammer to crack a nut. It makes the work easier, but you still have to work.”

He said teachers have an important role in guiding students on the proper use of AI. “The most important thing is what do we use, what for, and in what proper way. That is what we need to know so we can guide others, especially students who are our future generation.”

He also encouraged teachers to contribute articles and ideas to the Everyday Science in Schools Magazine to help spread scientific knowledge across the country.

Dr. Emmanuel Ahene of the Department of Computer Science and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee described AI as one of the biggest technological changes in modern history.

“We are living in one of the most significant technological shifts in human history. Artificial Intelligence, once science fiction, is now embedded in our phones, search engines, healthcare systems, and financial analysis,” he said.

He explained that AI can make teaching easier by helping teachers prepare lesson notes quickly and support students with different learning abilities.

“AI can help teachers build lesson plans in minutes, simplify complex topics, and support learners at different ability levels. The opportunities are enormous,” he noted.

Dr. Ahene warned that Ghana risks falling behind if teachers are not trained in AI. “If we do not equip our senior high school teachers with this knowledge, our students will fall behind compared to their counterparts in countries already embracing AI in education.”

He said the workshop was organised to help teachers prepare for the future of digital learning.

President of the Ghana Science Association KNUST Branch and Editor of Everyday Science in Schools Magazine, Professor Alexander Kwarteng, said AI has become an important part of education and future careers.

“AI has come to stay. By 2030, about 90% of jobs available will be AI-related. Therefore, it is extremely important that our STEM teachers get familiar with what AI is as quickly as possible,” he stated.

He explained that AI can reduce the workload of teachers, especially in large classrooms. “Teachers are burdened with marking because of large class sizes. With AI, it will be possible to set questions and even assist in marking, allowing teachers more time to assess learning effectively,” he said.

Prof. Kwarteng added that AI can help students understand difficult science and mathematics concepts through visual demonstrations. “In Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, many concepts are abstract. AI can help demonstrate these concepts visually so students can understand better.”

He compared the growth of AI to the transformation in transportation over the years. “A hundred years ago, travel was by horse or wooden transport. Today we have vehicles that move much faster. In the same way, society is changing, and we must adapt to AI or risk being left behind.”

He also revealed that interest in the programme has been very high, with many schools and institutions requesting wider access to the training.

Teachers excited about AI opportunities

Teachers who attended the workshop said they were eager to apply the knowledge in their classrooms.

A Mathematics teacher at St. Michael’s Senior High School, Comfort Akosuah Serwaa Mensah, said she hopes to use AI to improve lesson preparation and problem-solving in Mathematics.

“I expect to learn more about using AI so that I can prepare lesson notes and help students solve more Mathematics problems. AI will help students handle critical and challenging questions.”

A Biology teacher at Mancell Senior High Technical School, Esi Kosma Debrah, said Ghanaian schools must keep up with global educational trends.

“We want to be at par with the international world. Outside Ghana, schools are already incorporating AI into teaching and learning,” she said.

She added that, “I expect this programme to sharpen my skills so I can apply AI effectively in the classroom and increase students’ interest in science.”

Expanding AI training across Ghana

Organizers say the program forms part of a wider effort by the Ghana Science Association to improve science education and digital innovation in schools.

They are calling for partnerships and support to expand the training to more teachers across the country and strengthen collaboration among educators.

As AI continues to shape education around the world, participants at the Kumasi workshop believe Ghanaian teachers must not only adapt to the change but also help lead it.