Education in Kosovo in the Age of AI: From Crisis to Hope

Education in Kosovo in the Age of AI: From Crisis to Hope

Written by: Egezon Baruti

A few years ago, I wrote an article about the worrying PISA results, asking: “Was the PISA test a surprise or reality?” Today, with the development of artificial intelligence, we have the opportunity to answer a new question: can AI become the savior of Kosovar education?

The bitter reality remains the same. The PISA 2022 results place Kosovo in last place in Europe, with only a fifth of students achieving basic proficiency in mathematics compared to the OECD average. As I noted in 2020, this was no surprise – even internal tests showed poor results, especially in physics and science subjects. Our schools suffer from a lack of infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms where over half work in double shifts, and an acute shortage of qualified teachers.

But today we have a new ray of hope. International research shows that AI can produce tremendous improvements in teaching, offering solutions to many of our structural problems. Most importantly, AI can be implemented at relatively low cost, making it affordable even for our limited education budget.

One of the greatest advantages of AI is its ability to overcome language and cultural barriers. High-quality educational content from around the world can be integrated and adapted for our Albanian context. Teaching materials from prestigious universities, interactive learning platforms, and scholarly resources can be made available in the Albanian language with accurate and culturally appropriate translations.

Imagine an AI model trained specifically for the Kosovo curriculum, containing all the best educational content from around the world. In the world of AI and technology, one of the main problems is updating textbooks and teaching materials – a process that costs a lot of time and money. But with AI, instead of spending millions of euros on buying expensive textbooks that are often outdated the moment they are printed, our teachers can generate high-quality content with a simple prompt and print it.

This means that a math teacher can create personalized exercises for her class, tailored to the level of her students and local examples. A history teacher can generate materials that connect world events to the Kosovar context. A science teacher can create safe and feasible experiments with the tools available in our school. All of this, without having to wait years for new textbooks to be approved or for special budgets.

Personalized learning represents perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of AI in education. Children are like flowers – each type has its own specific needs to grow and bloom. Just as you can’t water a rose like you can a tulip, every student has their own unique learning pace, style, and method. AI can identify these individual differences and tailor lessons to each child’s needs.

In our overcrowded classrooms, where a teacher must manage up to forty students, personalized learning has been virtually impossible. AI can change this reality. Intelligent systems can monitor the progress of each student, identify specific difficulties, and provide additional exercises or alternative explanations for those who need them. This means that a student who struggles with algebra can receive additional support, while one who is gifted in science can have more advanced challenges.

AI can also help our teachers, who are often overwhelmed and unsupported. Artificial intelligence tools can automate many administrative tasks, create personalized lesson plans, grade homework, and provide detailed reports on student progress. This will give teachers more time to do what they do best – interact directly with students and inspire them.

The main challenge remains thoughtful and gradual implementation. We cannot expect AI to solve all our problems immediately, but we can start with pilot projects in selected schools, evaluate the results, and gradually expand use. It is important to train teachers, ensure that the technology is accessible to all, and maintain the human element in the teaching process.

Kosovo has the youngest population in Europe – this is our greatest advantage. With smart investment in AI and education, we can turn this demographic potential into a force that will lead our country towards a brighter future. The question is no longer whether AI can help Kosovar education – it’s how quickly we can embrace this transformative opportunity.