How does Rori deliver lessons?

It runs on WhatsApp, writes in natural language, and adjusts difficulty based on student responses. It is built to work where connectivity is low.

What did the study measure?

An eight-month study of 500 students conducted in 2023 by Oxford and J-PAL researchers found that students who used Rori for two 30-minute sessions a week outscored a control group by a margin roughly equivalent to an extra year of study.

Where is Rori expanding?

It is expanding to government schools in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, and Ghana.

Large Language ModelsSemafor Tech3m agoOct 28, 2026, 19:01 JST

Rori AI tutor lifts students by a year in Oxford/J-PAL study

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3 Key Points

What happened
Rising Academies' WhatsApp-based math tutor Rori, used twice weekly for 30-minute sessions, helped 500 students outscore a control group by roughly an extra year of study, per a 2023 Oxford and J-PAL study.
Why it matters
The result suggests a low-connectivity tool that adjusts difficulty to student responses can supplement classroom learning in places where teacher shortages have hurt instruction.

WHO IT HITSEducation ministries and school operators in low-connectivity regions may see a low-cost, WhatsApp-delivered tutor as a way to supplement scarce teaching capacity.

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Context & Analysis

Rori was built to supplement classroom learning in a region where a severe teacher shortage has taken a toll on instruction. Shabnam Aggarwal, chief technology officer of Rising Academies, says teachers are trying hard but not getting the support and training they need, which is the gap the tool is meant to address.

The approach contrasts with attitudes in the United States, where a February Pew Research Center survey found four in ten adults expect AI to have a negative impact on society, and two of the largest US school districts have recently restricted students' use of AI. In parts of Africa, by contrast, Aggarwal says many parents see AI as a way to give their kids a leg up.

The 2023 Oxford and J-PAL study of 500 students offers one data point on whether that optimism is warranted. Similar experiments are also underway elsewhere, including in Nigeria, where a 2025 study found access to Microsoft Copilot helped students learn English.

FAQ

How does Rori deliver lessons?: It runs on WhatsApp, writes in natural language, and adjusts difficulty based on student responses. It is built to work where connectivity is low.
What did the study measure?: An eight-month study of 500 students conducted in 2023 by Oxford and J-PAL researchers found that students who used Rori for two 30-minute sessions a week outscored a control group by a margin roughly equivalent to an extra year of study.
Where is Rori expanding?: It is expanding to government schools in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, and Ghana.

Semafor TechRead Original Article

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