INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO TEACHING AND LEARNING TO ENHANCE CRITICAL THINKING AND RATIONALITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY NIGERIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

Abstract

The 21st century presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities for education in Nigeria. Among these is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into teaching and learning processes to enhance critical thinking and rationality. Education in Nigeria has historically been shaped by colonial legacies, rote learning, and examination-centered practices, which have limited the development of analytical and reflective thinking. However, the emergence of AI offers the potential to transform educational delivery, pedagogy, and learning outcomes. This paper examines the philosophical foundations, theoretical frameworks, and pedagogical implications of integrating AI in Nigeria’s educational system to promote rationality and critical thinking. Drawing upon constructivist theory, critical rationalism, and Deweyan pragmatism, the study highlights how AI can facilitate inquiry-based learning, metacognitive reflection, and adaptive instruction. The discussion also interrogates infrastructural, ethical, and policy challenges that constrain effective implementation. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for holistic reform combining technological innovation with pedagogical reorientation to foster an educational culture grounded in reasoning, creativity, and ethical intelligence.