INTEGRATING AI AND STEM EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper investigates the Integrating of AI and STEM Education for Sustainable Community Development: A Comparative Study of Urban and Rural Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria. The introductory part of it focus on the importance of education in attaining sustainable development, it also looked at various forms of education such as; formal, non-formal and informal types of education that foster sustainable community development, it also discussed disparities in accessing quality between Urban and Rural Areas and how AI and STEM can be explored to bridging these gaps. Policy implementation remains a vital means for broadening educational reform in Nigeria. Conceptual aspect of paper provides the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings that guide the study. It identifies key constructs, their interrelationships, and the rationale for their inclusion in the context of education which includes adult education and community development, the work anchored on two theories out of six theories that guided the work, Conceptual Relationships between AI and STEM was discussed, Origin and Purpose, benefits and limitations were also explored.  The overview of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the Synergy between SDG 4 & SDG 9 was discussed and how AI and STEM Education can be used in achieving Quality Education in both urban and rural areas, Challenges were identified in educational infrastructure, technology access, and STEM resources, with urban areas holding a significant advantage. It concluded by suggesting the need for ethical considerations for implementing AI and STEM Education in both urban and rural communities in Rivers State.