By Jerry More Nyazungu
For the longest time, our African education systems have measured intelligence by how well a student can remember not how well they can think.
If you could cram 400 pages and reproduce them word-for-word in an exam? You were called a genius. You got 15 points. Scholarships. Framed photos on the school wall. A hero of your village.
But the student who asked questions like:
“Sir, where do we use this in real life?”
was labelled disruptive.
Now, in 2025, Artificial Intelligence has entered the classroom and the game has changed.
My Days at Glen View Library
When I was in tertiary school, I used to walk all the way to Glen View Library and wait up to two weeks just to get my hands on one special accounting book.
Why? Because it was the only copy. One book. One student at a time.
Today? That same book is probably available online, or better still I can simply ask AI:
“Can you summarise this book for me in 10 key points?”
Boom. Done in seconds. With explanations, jokes, and even follow-up questions.
So… Is Memory Still a Superpower?
Let’s be real: AI remembers better than our best students.
It doesn’t forget. It doesn’t need past papers. It doesn’t cheat. And it doesn’t get tired.
So if memorizing is no longer a competitive advantage…
Why are we still rewarding it like it’s 1992?
The New Intelligence: Thinking, Not Cramming
In this new world:
- The smartest person is not the one who remembers the most…
- It’s the one who can ask the best questions, connect ideas, and use technology to solve real-world problems.
AI has made memory cheap. But creativity, leadership, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking? That’s still a human game.
We Need to Redefine Education in Africa
It’s time to stop praising students just because they “crammed better.”
Instead, let’s build an education system that:
Encourages asking “Why?”
Rewards problem-solving, not past-paper recycling
Teaches students to use AI tools responsibly
Fosters innovation, emotional intelligence, and adaptability
Let’s raise builders, not memorizers.
Let’s produce creators, not just consumers.
Let’s raise children who can think, not just repeat.
AI hasn’t killed education. It has just exposed how outdated ours is.
As Africans, we must embrace tools like AI, not fear them. Let’s create a generation that’s not just book-smart, but street-smart, tech-smart, and purpose-driven.
What’s your experience with AI and learning? Do you think our current education system is preparing young people for the future?
Let me know in the comments
#EducationReform #AIinAfrica #FutureOfWork #AfricanInnovation #JerryNyazungu #TheCharteredVendor
