The New Generation Academy in Kigali on November 19 hosted a delegation from UNESCO, Bulgaria, and a representative from Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation in preparation for Rwanda’s participation in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI).

The school, which follows the Cambridge curriculum, is pioneering the integration of AI into its educational programmes, aiming to teach students from nursery through to secondary school.

During the visit, students showcased their AI projects, including robotics, drones, and traffic light systems, demonstrating the school’s commitment to emerging technologies.

Although AI education in Rwanda is still in its early stages, the New Generation Academy’s initiatives are seen as vital for preparing the next generation to compete in global AI competitions.

ALSO READ: Kigali students inspired by new robotics lab

According to Jean-Claude Tuyisenge, the founder and managing director of New Generation Academy, the school is committed to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its curriculum, starting from the earliest levels, emphasising the importance of embracing AI despite differing options on the technology.

"We have already started to develop the curriculum for AI and want to incorporate it so that students from kindergarten up to grade 9 can learn artificial intelligence,” he said.

Tuyisenge expressed confidence in the school’s ability to compete at high levels, noting that New Generation Academy has already participated in and won competitions for high school students, even though the school serves primary and lower secondary students.

"We are confident that we can compete with high school students. We have been doing that, and we’ve won many competitions even though they were organised for secondary students,” he stated.

New Generation Academy is focused on integrating AI into its curriculum from an early age to help prepare students for the rapidly advancing field of technology.

During her visit to New Generation Academy in Kigali, Elena Marinova, co-founder and chair of the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), recognised the school’s dedication to developing young talents, underscoring the potential impact of AI on the future.

She was impressed by the students’ projects, which included robotics, drones, traffic lights, and 3D printing, noting the depth of their work and the enthusiasm of both students and teachers.

"I am very positively surprised by the enthusiasm of the teachers and the kids and the depth of the projects they are working on. Although these students are still in grade 7 or 8, I’m confident that in a few years, they will be ready to compete at the highest levels,” Marinova said.

ALSO READ: Five things to know as Rwanda pilots robotics in curriculum

Alpha Mpore Mugisha, a Grade 8 student who demonstrated drone operations during the visit, , shared his admiration for how companies like zipline operates explaining that his aspiration are to integrate artificial intelligence into drone systems to enhance their efficiency.

"Drones often lose signal while in operation, and I would like to explore ways to integrate AI into the systems controlling drones. My goal is to ensure that if an issue arises during operation, the AI can automatically find a solution and allow the drone to continue delivering services effectively," he said.

For Gaella Ninziza Ndizihiwe, also in Grade 8, demonstrated her understanding of traffic light systems and how she programs them using coding during her presentation, she was asked a question on what she could do if a traffic light turns green for a road with no cars while the road with more cars remains red?

She responded, suggesting that the integration of AI into traffic light programming could help optimize traffic flow.

"Since traffic lights are usually pre-programmed, I believe AI could be integrated to allow the system to adapt and respond dynamically based on real-time traffic conditions, ensuring that traffic lights prioritize roads with heavier traffic," she explained.

ALSO READ: How coding training nurtures software developers from Mahama refugee camp

Dominique Mvunabandi, the Director of Science, Technology, and Innovations at UNESCO Rwanda National Commission, emphasised that the purpose of the visit to the New Generation Academy was to assess Rwanda’s readiness to host the International AI Olympiad.

Mvunabandi noted that the visit aimed to explore Rwanda’s AI facilities, infrastructure, and expertise, gathering insights to help organise the competition in collaboration with UNESCO and the Bulgarian National Commission.

"We are evaluating the pool of knowledge and expertise here in Rwanda to see how we can support the AI Olympiad. The competition will culminate in the International AI Olympiad next year, which will be held in China, with Rwanda poised to send its best candidates to represent the country,” he explained.

Mvunabandi also highlighted that the competition, which will feature different categories for both students and teachers, will include advanced technologies like robotics, AI, virtual reality, and drone technology.

Director of the Department of Innovation and Emerging Technologies at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Victor Muvunyi, explained that Rwanda’s goal is to involve at least 10 African nations, and with the support of Smart Africa, they expect that number to rise.

He emphasised the importance of incorporating AI into the national curriculum, which remains a work in progress, and expressed hope that other schools in Rwanda would follow New Generation Academy’s example in integrating emerging technologies.

"We are working with partners to level up countries in AI, and Rwanda is proud to be at the forefront of this effort,” he said.

He also commended New Generation Academy for its role in promoting AI education, noting the impressive innovations showcased at the school, such as robots built from recyclable materials.