Madagascar is turning to WhatsApp and AI to train its teachers 📱🤖

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In an effort to modernize its struggling teacher training system, Madagascar is betting on a bold new combo: instant messaging and artificial intelligence. The idea? Use tech tools that are already widely adopted to reach educators—even in the most remote corners of the island.

Tackling a broken system 📉

For years, Madagascar has struggled to provide consistent, high-quality training for its teachers. The problem is especially acute for so-called “FRAM teachers”—instructors hired and paid directly by local parent associations. Often working in rural areas, these teachers can represent up to 64% of the education workforce in some regions, according to UNICEF. Many lack formal training and teach without meeting national qualification standards.

To address this, Madagascar has partnered with Beaj Education, a Pakistan-based edtech startup founded by Zainab Qureshi. The company’s pitch is simple but smart: use WhatsApp—a platform already deeply embedded in Madagascar’s digital habits—as the delivery channel for bite-sized training modules. Each session lasts around 20 minutes and is optimized for mobile phones, making it easy for teachers to learn on the go.

Backing up the messaging app is a multilingual AI system powered by tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. It acts as a personalized assistant, helping teachers digest content, ask questions, and get real-time feedback—all in their preferred language.

Designed for real-world challenges 🌍

The program is intentionally tailored to Madagascar’s realities. It offers educational content in both French and Malagasy, and is flexible enough to fit around the busy lives of educators. There’s no need for formal supervision; the platform is designed for self-paced learning that can happen anytime, anywhere.

The AI doesn’t just spit out static lessons either. It adapts dynamically to each teacher’s level, learning goals, and linguistic background—offering a degree of personalization rarely seen in traditional training programs.

Still, even the smartest tech can’t sidestep certain hard limits. Access to reliable internet remains a major hurdle. According to the International Telecommunication Union, nearly 80% of Madagascar’s population is still offline. Smartphones aren’t yet ubiquitous either, particularly in rural areas.

To succeed, the initiative will need support beyond software. Experts point to the need for concrete measures: subsidizing devices for teachers, boosting network infrastructure in underserved areas, and developing offline-friendly content.

A small pilot with big potential 🔍

Despite the challenges, this pilot could be a game-changer. If it proves effective, it may offer a replicable blueprint for other countries facing similar educational gaps.

By blending accessibility, mobility, and personalization, Madagascar is quietly laying the groundwork for a new kind of teacher training—one that could redefine how professional development happens across Africa. The big question now is whether the structural hurdles can be overcome.

Do you think AI and WhatsApp could transform education in remote areas? Let us know in the comments! 😁