Events

Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom

March 21, 2024

Education Finance Network event

On March 21, 2024, the Education Finance Network hosted a virtual event on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Classroom, providing an opportunity for its members to learn and discuss how they can apply their work as non-state actors funding and implementing AI in education in low- and middle-income countries.

A panel comprising John Soleanicov, Co-Lead of the Learning Schools Portfolio at Jacobs Foundation, and Shabnam Aggarwal, Chief Technology Officer at Rising Academies, engaged in a conversation moderated by Charlie Habershon, Associate Partner at Dalberg Advisors.

Below is a summary of the discussion:

Unlocking the potential of technology in education requires equitable access to technology and connectivity, government regulation, and teacher preparation.
Education Finance Network members can help ensure that these prerequisites are established by leveraging innovative financing for AI technology through Public-Private Partnerships, advocating for government involvement to avoid inefficiencies, and supporting capacity-building for teachers are crucial steps.
Non-state actors can drive innovation by experimenting in controlled environments, leveraging their agility and flexibility to pioneer new approaches in education.
Ensuring equitable access to AI technologies involves addressing device availability and connectivity, with organizations like the Jacobs Foundation supporting AI tool development in low-income countries.
AI-driven solutions like Rising Academies’ WhatsApp-based math tutor and chatbot, Rori, show promise in improving student performance and supporting teachers.

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Education Finance Network event

Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom

“As part of the Education Finance Network, in ¡Supérate! we are very open to share our knowledge with other members and also willing to learn from others experiences.”

Rodrigo Bustamante, Executive Director, ¡Supérate!

“At Amala, we believe all refugees – as all people – have the right to high quality education that enables them to turn their dreams into reality and thrive. Funding remains one of the largest barriers to ensuring inclusive and equitable high-quality education, and we are excited to participate in the Education Finance Network’s important work to make this goal a reality.”

Mia Eskelund, Co-founder and Co Executive Director, Amala

“When I started work in education finance, specifically tertiary education finance, seven years ago it felt like there was no one to talk to, very few examples to learn from, and even less capital available. Times have changed, the momentum is picking up, and I really enjoyed having a dynamic discussion where we highlighted the importance of taking action now. The Education Finance Network is giving this important topic a home, a context, and an opportunity.”

Batya Blankers, Co-founder and CEO, Chancen International

“I was delighted to participate as speaker, jointly with UBS Optimus Foundation, in the panel Beyond grantmaking: defining an investment strategy to support inclusive and equitable quality education. Sharing the ideas, preliminary steps, and challenges faced in the design of a new strategy that seeks to balance social impact and financial sustainability represented a double bottom line opportunity: it was a treasured chance to discuss with other members of the Education Finance Network who have extensive experience and have faced similar challenges, while getting food for thought and insights about how to advance our individual process in Fundación Carulla.”

Alejandra Montes Saenz, Executive Director, Fundación Carulla

“As a collaborative community of non-state education organizations, we understand the importance of networks – and that their true value comes from finding ways to share expertise and partner collaboratively across geographies, sectors, and silos. That’s why we’ve been so pleased to work with the Education Finance Network to bring together like-minded organizations across the education sector.”

Aashti Zaidi Hai, Founder and CEO, Global Schools Forum

“We want to learn from members of the network and understand their work and their impact, share learnings from our partners who work with low-fee private schools , and together build knowledge on impacting non-state actors in education in LMICs.”

Animesh Priya, Director of Partnerships, Global School Leaders

“Being a member of the Education Finance Network is a unique opportunity to learn from our peers’ experience, to share knowledge with other education stakeholders, and to advocate for an inclusive quality education that will positively impact the learning community.”

Koumba Anouma, Director I&P Education to Employment program

“Kaizenvest and Education Finance Network co-authored an op-ed for ImpactAlpha spotlighting the accelerated learning losses in low- and middle-income countries resulting from Covid-19 lockdowns, and how non-state actors and private finance can support learning recovery efforts. By putting our voices behind joint messages advocating for a recognition of non-state actors in education and an increase of financing in the sector, we can push the debate around access to high-quality education and keep the issue high on the international agenda.”

Nirav Khambhati, Managing Partner, Kaizenvest

“It is an absolute privilege to be a part of Education Finance Network’s working group on Private Support to Public Systems, among some brilliant leaders advocating for impact and change in global education systems. Each session concludes with insightful takeaways on policy, practice, and evidence, creating a solid space for further discourse and innovation. I really appreciate Education Finance Network for this incredible platform and the enriching discussions.”

Tanvi Sethi, Program Specialist, LEGO Foundation

“Through our participation in the Education Finance Network, we hope to gain and share insights related to creative financing modalities for bringing high-quality and high-impact interventions to learners within formal and informal educational settings.”

Anthony Bloome, Executive Director, mEducation Alliance

“Based on my 25 years of experience in international development, I believe that sustainable development goals will be achieved much faster when funders prioritize scaling proven solutions over innovating new solutions. Through our collaboration with the Education Finance Network we hope to play a role in helping investors identify more ECD solutions that are ready to scale and where appropriate, use international franchising to expand their impact worldwide.”

Julie McBride, CEO and Founder, Stage Six

“The PAL Network deeply believes that in order to achieve education transformation at scale, we need all collaborative efforts to align public and private resources. The best use of private funding is to leverage public expenditure and we are happy to follow this idea with other organizations within the frame of the Education Finance Network. The PAL Network celebrates the Education Finance Network’s effort to catalyze collaborations for the best use of resources in fighting the learning crisis.”

Nina Alonso, Advocacy and Communications Manager, PAL Network

“Through the Education Finance Network, we hope to learn how to make the case for us obtaining support from our government and we look forward to learning how organizations in other countries are addressing the problem of sustainability.”

Olie Lucas, President, Unang Hakbang Foundation

“We found the Education Finance Network’s work on PPPs in education very interesting because we need innovative and affordable solutions to finance the provision of quality education in developing countries.”

Sola Magaji, Acting CEO, WAAW Foundation

“We are excited to be part of the Education Finance Network and jointly discuss and explore new innovative financing models that can accelerate reading outcomes and reduce the digital divide among vulnerable and underserved populations.”

Rebecca Chandler Leege, Chief Impact Officer, Worldreader

“The Zenex Foundation actively participates in forums that promote collective learning and sharing to tackle longstanding, deep rooted systemic issues. Collaboration can be a key enabling factor for achieving improved education outcomes.”

Ruth Rakosa, Communications Manager, Zenex Foundation