DELSU’s Prof. Tsetimi Dives Into AI’s Ethical Dilemmas For Future Classrooms

OTUOKE, BAYELSA STATE – May 27, 2025 –

Professor Jonathan Tsetimi, a distinguished Professor of Industrial Mathematics, Director of the Centre for International Collaboration and Linkages at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, and Vice-President (South-South) of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners, captivated attendees at the Maiden International Conference of the Faculty of Education, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State. 26th – 29th May, 2025

His lead paper presentation, titled “Transforming Education in the 21st Century Through Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Considerations,” delivered May 27, 2025, delved deep into the complex interplay between technological advancement and moral responsibility in the evolving educational landscape.

Professor Tsetimi, also a Member of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, USA, brought a wealth of expertise to the discussion.

During his presentation, Professor Tsetimi emphasized that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a paradigm shift with the potential to revolutionize teaching, learning, and administrative processes, its transformative power is inextricably linked with significant ethical considerations that demand rigorous examination and proactive address.

He highlighted AI’s unprecedented opportunities for enhancing educational outcomes and accessibility through personalized learning platforms, intelligent tutoring systems, automated assessment, and curriculum design. However, he warned that the increasing integration of AI into such a fundamental pillar of society is not without its inherent complexities and multifaceted challenges.

Professor Tsetimi meticulously examined key areas of ethical concern, including the pervasive issues of bias and fairness in algorithmic decision-making. He explained that AI systems, as pattern recognition machines, can inadvertently perpetuate and even amplify pre-existing societal biases if trained on datasets that reflect inequalities related to race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or disability. This can lead to discriminatory outcomes in areas such as biased assessment tools, personalized learning pathways that inadvertently reinforce inequalities, or resource allocation systems that favor certain schools based on historical data. He stressed the need for meticulous curation of training datasets, sophisticated bias detection, and continuous monitoring to ensure fairness.

He further elaborated on the paramount importance of data privacy and security in handling sensitive student information. Professor Tsetimi underscored that the extensive collection of academic performance, learning behaviors, personal identification, demographic, and even biometric data by AI systems raises profound ethical concerns. He advocated for robust data governance, including informed consent, data minimization, purpose limitation, strong security protocols, and the right to access and rectification for students and guardians.

The evolving role of human educators in an AI-augmented learning environment was another critical point. While AI can automate tasks and provide insights, Professor Tsetimi emphatically recognized the irreplaceable contributions of human teachers in fostering socio-emotional development, critical thinking, mentorship, and creating supportive learning environments.

He called for significant investment in teacher training and professional development to equip educators to effectively utilize AI tools, redefine teaching roles to leverage AI as an augmentative tool, avoid deskilling the profession, and consciously preserve the crucial human connection in education.

Professor Tsetimi also stressed the critical need for robust accountability and transparency in the operation of AI systems. He argued that as AI integrates into critical educational decision-making processes, such as student assessment and resource allocation, clear lines of responsibility are paramount. He called for greater explainability in AI algorithms, independent auditing and evaluation mechanisms, clear definitions of responsibility and liability for harmful outcomes, and ensuring that educators and students develop a fundamental understanding of how AI tools function.

Finally, Professor Tsetimi addressed the potential impact on educational equity. While AI promises personalized learning, he cautioned that issues of unequal access to technology, biased algorithms, and the pervasive digital divide could inadvertently widen existing achievement gaps. He recommended actively working to bridge the digital divide, ensuring accessibility through universal design, developing culturally responsive AI, promoting equitable resource allocation, and prioritizing inclusive design throughout the AI lifecycle in education.
Professor Tsetimi concluded by advocating for a holistic approach to AI integration in education, one that not only embraces innovation but also prioritizes data privacy, algorithmic fairness, and transparency. He asserted, “Our future classrooms must be built on a foundation of trust and ethical responsibility, ensuring that AI serves as an empowering force for all learners, without compromising their privacy or security.” His address served as a powerful call to action for all stakeholders – educators, policymakers, and technologists – to collaboratively shape an ethical and secure AI-powered future for education.

Specifically, Professor Tsetimi’s insights underscore urgent recommendations for the Nigerian Government. He implicitly called for the government to take a leading role in developing and implementing comprehensive national AI policies that explicitly address ethical principles like fairness, accountability, transparency, and data privacy in education. This includes establishing robust data governance frameworks, promoting ethical AI design and development through clear guidelines, and investing in continuous professional development for educators nationwide.

Furthermore, he emphasized the critical need for the government to address the pervasive digital divide, ensuring equitable access to technology and internet connectivity across all regions, and to establish strong accountability mechanisms for AI systems to safeguard citizens’ rights. He urged the Nigerian Government to foster a responsible and beneficial integration of AI, ensuring technology enhances learning, promotes equity, and upholds the highest ethical standards for all its citizens.