“Developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI),” commented the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, “pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” This quote underscores the debates on the impact of AI on our society.
The use of AI is increasingly embedded in all sectors of individual and public life. As much as there are debates on the impact of AI in influencing humanity, it’s undeniable that humans can no longer avoid the penetrating force of AI as a crucial tool in addressing everyday issues of life. It is a reality in life that needs engagement.
Water is wet, and so is AI driven by science. AI has a lot to do with data. How data is generated, captured, analysed, interpreted and put into use contributes to the whole ecosystem of AI. Thus, AI is, largely, a function of data. This is where Data Sciences and allied sciences become crucial in our engagement with AI. The competence in AI depends on the competence in Data Sciences and related sciences.
In this light, Tanzania as a country, it is imperative to develop capacities in this area if we want to avoid being only the products and consumers of AI. To go beyond being the end users and to avoid being “victims” of AI, there is a need to develop our country’s capabilities in such areas of science. This is why the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda’s budget speech for 2025/26, calls for attention and critical assessment.
According to Mkenda, the government, through his ministry, plans to send high-performing science form six leavers to the best universities abroad — USA, Europe, South Africa, China and Asia – to pursue undergraduate studies in areas of Data Sciences, AI and Allied Sciences. This means a substantial amount of taxpayers’ money will be dedicated to this.
READ MORE: Government to Extend Samia Scholarship to Fund Students in Data Science Studies
In this respect, questions emerge. These questions are genuine, given the fact that it’s public money that is involved. The money, citizens may argue, could be invested in local universities to further strengthen their capabilities to deliver similar studies. To note, there are local universities in our country that offer similar courses.
So answering that question requires a wider perspective, which we will touch on in a bit. Other questions include how sustainable the program will be. Are we not encouraging brain drain? In this brief piece, I will try to bring some perspectives in answering these questions, through which further discussions are encouraged.
Well-established practice
There is an adequate record both in social and academic literature reflecting several countries’ strategies of sending a substantial number of youths to pursue studies in developed countries to enhance their capacity and competitiveness in specific areas.
China is one of those countries which, building on its meritocratic culture, sent a significant number of its smartest youths to pursue studies in the USA and Europe. In the biography of Deng Xiaoping, Ezra Vogel narrates how Deng was among the youths who were sent to pursue studies in France.
China has not stopped this practice even with its impressive development. India, despite its advancement in areas of science, continues to send students to pursue undergraduate studies in science in the USA and other countries.
There are chains of evidence that this practice enhances a country’s competetiveness as a result of transfer and diffusion of knowledge, technology and ideas; establishing and creating a country’s critical mass with regards to competence in certain areas of skills; strengthening diaspora community and their capacity to influence their host countries as well as supporting their own country of origin.
Brain drain
To emphasise and to address the question of brain drain, the argument about a strong diaspora community comes into play. It is undeniable that diasporas have had a positive impact on their countries of origin. Nevertheless, the extent to which a country can benefit from its diaspora depends on the “quality” of the diaspora that the country has.
If Tanzania sends its smartest students to pursue undergraduate studies in the best universities in the world, and after studies, they manage to secure proficient job positions and remain in those countries, it means Tanzania will have empowered its diaspora community and increase its prospects of benefiting further from them.
Thus, there should never be worries of brain drain in a world that is intertwined through the internet and advanced digital technologies. “Brain Circulation,” as my friend Chambi Chachage keeps telling me, “ends the debate between Brain Drain and Brain Gain.”
Moreover, the need for trained Data Scientists in our country remains valid, and a number of those who will be sponsored will still come back home and develop our domestic capabilities. As AI keeps advancing, emerging challenges and jobs will require Data Scientists. Thus, those who have been trained abroad will join efforts with those who have been locally trained to enhance our ability to address those challenges.
In light of the above, I think it’s a smart move and indeed a good plan for the Ministry to come up with this programme, which is an extension of the existing Samia Scholarship in Local Universities for High Performing Science Form Six Leavers and the Samia Scholarship Extended for Nuclear Sciences Graduate Studies abroad.
One question that the Ministry and the Government will have to keep thinking about is to make the plan sustainable to build an internationally trained critical mass of competent Tanzanian Data Scientists who will work both in Tanzania and across the globe.
Dr Aikande Clement Kwayu is a researcher and public intellectual who serves on the committee for the Mwalimu Nyerere National Prize for Creative Writers. She is available at aikande.kwayu@gmail.com and on X as @aikande. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
One Response
Im supper excited to hear that my county is moving forward and very facilitated with technology like other countries around the globe. Myself im teaching and reintroducing AI to public school here in the USA and I will glad to volunteer to my country helping community and local business.