AI in Education: The Hidden Dangers for Small Island States

In the global conversation, AI is being celebrated as the future of education — from personalized tutoring to automated grading. But for small island states like Seychelles, the promise of AI comes with dangers we cannot afford to ignore.

Beyond the Hype: A Local Lens

AI can transform classrooms, but only if it’s grounded in our realities. Tools designed for wealthy, large-scale education systems often don’t translate to island contexts — where connectivity is uneven, teacher training is stretched, and cultural identity is fragile.

The Risks We Must Name

• Dependency on foreign platforms

Handing over our classrooms to algorithms built elsewhere risks losing control of our educational direction. We are already implementing online literacy and numeracy programs designed for native English speakers — and still grappling with the task of embedding local context into these tools. Our education system is already strained in adapting curricula; adding another layer of imported AI could further erode our ability to shape education on our own terms.

• Teacher alienation

AI that replaces rather than supports educators erodes trust and disempowers those shaping the next generation. Teacher professional development and training may be costly and stretch national budgets, but how does that compare to the recurring expense of bringing AI infrastructure and connectivity into every classroom and home? The investment in teachers is also an investment in resilience.

• Cultural invisibility

Without Creole and local content in training data, students learn through tools that ignore their identity and language. This is often overlooked. International languages like Spanish or Italian are easily integrated into AI models — but what about the languages of small island states, where English is a second language? Ignoring them risks creating a generation educated in tools that fail to reflect who they are.

• Widening divides

In places where not every child has reliable access to devices or internet, AI could deepen inequalities rather than reduce them. Seychelles may be classified as a high-income country, but just like any other, it has less fortunate communities. Without intentional design, AI will reinforce privilege instead of expanding opportunity.

• Data sovereignty concerns

Student data stored abroad raises hard questions about privacy and national control. While small, our risks are no less serious — especially when the data of minors could be exposed to scammers or criminal networks. Data sovereignty is not a luxury; it is a matter of national security and trust.

Building Bridges, Not Barriers

For Seychelles, the question isn’t whether we use AI in education — it’s how. We need strategies that empower teachers, preserve culture, and close, not widen, the digital divide. Because education is more than technology. It’s about identity, equity, and preparing our children for the future — on our own terms.

AI in education promises transformation — but in classrooms like these, the real challenge is ensuring technology empowers teachers and reflects local contexts.

Let’s Start a Conversation

How can small nations ensure that AI in education becomes a bridge, not a barrier?

Seychelles has a chance to be more than a passive adopter — we can be a thought leader in ethical, inclusive AI for education.

We invite educators, technologists, and policymakers to join the dialogue. Because the future of education isn’t just about smart systems — it’s about wise choices.

At Vincere Insights, we’ll keep exploring these questions — because for island states, the future of education can’t be imported. It must be designed, locally and with purpose.