We've launched Lefa AI, a 10-month national initiative bringing schools, communities, researchers, and policymakers together to make sense of AI in basic South African education.
AI is already
changing
education.
Let’s make sense
of it together.
Why Lefa AI?
Why now?
Because education in South Africa can not afford to delay its response to AI
AI is advancing faster than schools, education systems, and policy can adapt. In South Africa, these challenges are compounded by an already complex education landscape shaped by inequality, language diversity, teacher workload, and uneven access to resources.
Lefa AI is a national process to help South Africa rapidly make sense of the impact of AI on education and actively shape a response that is informed, collaborative, and grounded in our unique context.
A little more about this initiative
Lefa AI is a 10-month national initiative bringing together schools, communities, researchers, policymakers, and organisations to explore the opportunities and risks of AI in basic education, from Grade R to Grade 12.
Through rapid research, dialogue, webinars, roundtables, and a wide range of accessible resources, the series helps South Africa raise awareness and respond to AI as it unfolds, instead of after the fact.
This is a shared process of learning, questioning, and collectively making sense of what responsible AI could look like in South African Basic Education.
Partners
Designed & convened by
Strategic Partners
Funding Partners
A glimpse into the insights:
Dr Helen Sidiropoulos
Assessment Specialist, IEB
Dr Helen Sidiropoulos
Assessment Specialist, IEB
Prof. Wayne Hugo
UKZN
Image courtesy of UNICEF South Africa
It's all in the details
How are we going about it?
A ten-month process of rapid research, dialogue and learning together to help South African craft a thoughtful response to AI in local education
Phase 1: Mapping the questions
Phase 2: Listening to the system
Phase 3: Bringing People into the Conversation
Phase 4: Shaping What Comes Next
Learning Partners
Follow your curiosity, pick a theme
Theme 1:
Policy & Regulatory Implications
AI is moving faster than policy can keep up. What principles, priorities, and safeguards should guide how South Africa makes decisions about AI in basic education?