ENG1502 Assignment 3 2025 (Exceptionally Crafted) Due 22 August 2025

ENG1502
Assignment 3
Due 22 August 2025

, ENG1502

Assignment 3

Due 22 August 2025



AI in education: Will it bridge or widen South Africa’s learning divide?
By Thapelo Molefe
Molefe, T. (2025) AI in education: Will it bridge or widen South Africa‟s learning divide?,
Inside Education, 1 March. Available at: https://insideeducation.co.za/ai-in-education-
will-it-bridge-or-widen-south-africas-learning-divide/ (Accessed: 31 July 2025).



TEXT 1



AI in Education: Will It Bridge or Widen South Africa’s Learning Divide?

The article AI in Education: Will it Bridge or Widen South Africa’s Learning Divide? by
Thapelo Molefe (2025), published in Inside Education, explores the dual-edged nature
of artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa’s educational landscape. Molefe presents a
nuanced view, acknowledging AI’s capacity to address historical inequities while
cautioning against its potential to reinforce them. This analysis interprets the article’s
key arguments within the context of South Africa’s unique socio-educational challenges.

AI’s Potential to Bridge the Learning Divide

AI holds significant promise for advancing education in South Africa, a country long
marked by inequality, particularly between urban and rural schools. The article identifies
several AI-driven applications that could enhance learning outcomes:

• Lesson Planning: Automating this process can reduce teacher workload,
allowing educators to focus more on student-centered engagement.

• Grading: AI tools can ensure faster, more consistent assessment, supporting
time-strapped educators.