Artificial intelligence (AI) is forcing education to confront a fundamental question: if knowledge is now abundant, what should schools be preparing young people for? Speaking at the 2nd International Conference on Curriculum Development in Kampala, Dr. Tony Devine, vice president for education at the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), argued that education can no longer be centered primarily on knowledge. “With knowledge everywhere, knowing is no longer enough,” he said, calling for education systems to move beyond what learners know to who they become and what they can do with what they know.

For Dr. Devine, the foundation of this transformation is character. He identified character, relationships, physical vitality, creativity, and applied skills as essential dimensions of education, while emphasizing that families and schools must work together in shaping young people. He also highlighted the changing role of educators, arguing that teachers are needed more than ever, but increasingly as guides who help young people develop judgement, responsibility, purpose, and the ability to navigate a complex world. These ideas closely reflect the GPF’s Transforming Education Blueprint, which places character at the center of education and focuses on developing the relationships and creative capacity young people need to build peaceful and prosperous societies.

Through its Transforming Education initiative, GPF is advancing this vision by focusing on both what students learn and how education can form capable, trustworthy, and future-ready young people. As AI continues to reshape learning and work, the challenge is now on how to rethink education itself. Read the full article on SoftPower News, “AI, Decolonisation and Future of African Education: Why Uganda Must Rethink What School Is For,” to explore Dr. Devine’s reflections and the wider conversation on the future of African education.