Integrating AI into Accelerated Bridge Programs for Out-of-School Learners

According to UNESCO's latest data, the global education faces challenges, with 250 million children out of school. The COVID-19 pandemic, economic inequalities, regional conflicts, and systemic barriers to education access have exacerbated the crisis. Despite recovery efforts, progress remains uneven, with many families prioritizing immediate needs over education. An innovative educational approach, called Speed schools, has emerged, particularly in Ethiopia, to raise students' academic performance. These schools condense a conventional three-year curriculum into a ten-month program, resulting in significant improvements in literacy and numeracy compared to traditional schooling methods. The ‘boost’ Speed School students receive from the Speed School instruction does not only bring many of them up to the standard of their peers but also gives them some advantage over the majority, in terms of their persistence and commitment to learn. Empirical research demonstrates that graduates of Speed School programs exhibit increased self-confidence and adaptability within the formal education system, facilitating their integration into state schools following program completion. This paper examines integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into a customized Speed School program for school-age out-of-school learners in Greece. The proposed AI integration aims to personalize learning through AI-supported diagnostic assessment, adaptive learning pathways, interactive games, and progress monitoring. A pilot project will evaluate the Speed School model's effectiveness in Greece, focusing on linguistic, cultural, and educational adaptations. Furthermore, the study estimates learning outcome, participation, and teacher attitudes towards AI.