Education is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. As technology advances, traditional and digital learning boundaries are fading, paving the way for innovative solutions that promise to revolutionise teaching and learning. However, with every wave of EdTech advancements comes the challenge of distinguishing genuine progress from passing trends.
In 2025, education will be shaped by technologies that deliver tangible and measurable impact. Artificial intelligence (AI), immersive learning, personalised education, and adaptive assessments are no longer futuristic concepts but are becoming integral tools worldwide in classrooms and learning environments. For institutions, educators, and learners, understanding the trends that drive meaningful change is more critical than ever.
In Nigeria, the EdTech market is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2025, with a 16% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) since 2020 (Techpoint Africa). AI-driven learning solutions drive this growth, as do efforts to bridge gaps in traditional education infrastructure, increase internet access, and broaden digital transformation. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the shift to digital learning, making EdTech an essential part of Nigeria’s education landscape.
Leading EdTech companies, including Phillips Consulting, are leveraging technology to create seamless and accessible learning experiences, particularly for working professionals. Platforms like Percipio equip learners with adaptive assessments, personalised learning journeys, and interactive tools that connect them with skilled instructors.
As the world embraces digital education, 2025 will mark a turning point where EdTech moves from hype to reality, redefining learning in transformative ways. This article explores key EdTech trends that shaped education in 2024 and then dives into emerging trends and opportunities expected to influence the education landscape in 2025. The focus will be on how these trends create new possibilities for learners and educators alike.
Overcoming Barriers: Addressing EdTech Challenges in Nigeria
While EdTech offers tremendous opportunities, realising its full potential in Nigeria requires addressing certain obstacles. Despite significant progress, several challenges continue to hinder EdTech growth in the country, including:
- Infrastructure Constraints: Inadequate internet, unreliable electricity, and limited device access.
- Digital Literacy Gaps: Some instructors and learners lack essential technical skills.
- Prohibitive Costs: High costs of devices, software, and maintenance, particularly for low-income communities and employees.
- Security Concerns: Cybersecurity and data protection risks in an increasingly digitised education sector.
To address these challenges, Nigeria must prioritise investments in infrastructure, digital literacy programs, and strategic partnerships between the private sector, government agencies, and EdTech innovators. By doing so, the nation can build a resilient and forward-thinking education system, equipping all learners with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century, as highlighted in UNESCO’s “Education for All” report (2020).
This annual report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) aims to monitor progress globally towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals and ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. Decision-makers should ensure that their plans align with their vision for sustainable educational development (Technology in Education—Global Education Monitoring Report Team 2023).
Several key trends are also shaping the ever-evolving landscape of education and EdTech. Economic uncertainty, tight labour markets, digital transformation, and the growing influence of mass information are challenging policymakers to transform existing education pathways. Trends like Virtual and Augmented Reality, Gamification, Microlearning, and Adaptive Learning can help create a more responsive and resilient education system. – Global Education Monitoring Report (2023).
It is 2025, and as a nation, navigating the ever-changing world is essential to stay informed about the trends shaping the future of education.
The Edtech Trends of 2024
Last year, several exciting trends were poised to revolutionise the education sector, enhancing the learning experience, improving outcomes, and bridging gaps. Here are some of the notable trends that have focused on leveraging technology to create more effective, accessible, and personalised education.
1. Flexible Learning Environments: With the rise of remote learning, educational institutions offered a mix of in-person and online lessons, making learning more accessible and convenient.
2. Integration of Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots supported learners with personalised guidance, automating administrative tasks, and enhancing the overall learning experience.
3. Career Technical Education (CTE): CTE programs gained popularity as they provide employees with hands-on experience and practical skills applicable to various industries, leading to improved skill acquisition rates and career readiness.
4. Virtual Learning Solutions: Virtual learning solutions became more prominent, reducing the frequent need for a facilitator and offering benefits like reduced class sizes, personalised learning, and increased flexibility for educators.
5. Nano/Microlearning: This trend involves delivering educational content in concise, bite-sized formats, catering to diverse learning styles and attention spans.
6. Edutainment: The fusion of education and entertainment gained traction, making learning more engaging and interactive through gamification, simulations, and immersive experiences.
7. Adaptive Assessment: Adaptive assessment methods are adjusted to individual learners’ strengths and weaknesses, providing a more personalised evaluation experience.
8. Accessibility: In 2024, Accessibility emerged as a significant trend in EdTech, focusing on creating inclusive learning environments that cater to diverse needs. This involves:
- Implementing accessible digital platforms and tools
- Providing closed captions, audio descriptions, and translations
- Offering flexible learning options for students with disabilities
- Ensuring equity and equal access to education for all learners
Trends that will continue in the year 2025 and beyond
- Virtual Learning Solutions
- Nano/Microlearning
- Edutainment (Gamification)
- Chatbots
- Flexible learning environment
- Accessibility
More Trends to Expect in 2025
It’s clear that some trends will have a lasting impact, extending beyond 2024 and into 2025. These innovations will continue to shape the future of education, improving learning outcomes and transforming the way we teach and learn. Here are some EdTech trends that will likely roll over to 2025:
1. Free Edtech Solutions: More edtech solutions will be built and designed, with institutions shifting towards free edtech solutions, reducing expenditures on technology licenses.
Some existing free edtech solutions:
- Google Jamboard: A free digital whiteboard app for collaborative learning.
- Google Expeditions: Let classes take virtual field trips to places like Mount Everest and the Louvre.
- Unimersiv: A free platform offering educational VR experiences.
- DreamBox Learning: A free math education and calculation platform using adaptive learning.
- Amira Learning: A free AI-powered reading assistant for students.
- Epic!: A free digital library offering gamified reading experiences for kids.
- Prodigy: A free math education platform using gamification.
- Quizlet: A free study site with flashcards, quizzes, and games.
- Kahoot: A free game-based learning platform for creating quizzes and surveys.
- Padlet: A free virtual bulletin board for collaboration and discussion.
- Formative: A free platform for creating and assigning quizzes, assessments, and interactive activities.
- Edpuzzle: A free platform for creating interactive video lessons.
“Technology can become the ‘wings’ that will allow the educational world to fly farther and faster than ever before – if we will allow it.” – Jenny Arledge.
2. AI-Driven Learning Platforms on the Rise: The integration of AI in education will revolutionise STEM learning, offering tailored experiences, immersive virtual labs, and interactive simulations that broaden access to high-quality science education in a short period of time. This has been going on for a while but is not as popular as it would be this year. This will assist developers in designing courses in a reasonable amount of time.
3. Addressing AI Cheating: Organisations and institutions will focus on preventing AI cheating, with educators demanding better support and more effective responses to this issue. AI Tutors will also be under scrutiny. Research on AI tutors’ effectiveness will increase, and educators will take a closer look at how well these tools work.
The AI Cheating Crisis: Education Needs Its Anti-Doping Movement (Noor Akbari, 2024.)
ChatGPT and Knowledge Integrity Concerns (Levent Uzun 2023)
4. Integrated Data Ecosystems: The education sector will see a shift towards more Integrated Data Ecosystems (IDEs). This shift will enable educators, administrators, learning and development professionals and policymakers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of employees’ learning lifecycle and progress.
Integrated Data Ecosystems (IDEs) refer to the seamless integration of various data sources, systems, and tools within an institution. This unified approach combines data from different areas, such as:
- Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- Assessment and grading tools
- Attendance and behavior tracking systems
5. Career Readiness Programmes: Partnerships between learning institutions and local industries will continue to grow, providing students with real-world experiences and preparing them for careers. Edtech Academies will continue to assist with internship placement by partnering with eLearning providers.
6. Rise of Game-Based Learning: Game design will emerge as a prominent pedagogical approach, transforming the learning experience into an engaging, interactive, and immersive journey. This has been ‘the way forward’ approach to captivate learners’ attention, with humans’ attention span continually reducing.
As we step into 2025, some of these trends will continue to shape the education landscape. The shift towards free EdTech solutions will gain momentum, reducing technology expenditures for institutions. AI-driven learning platforms will revolutionise STEM learning, offering tailored experiences and immersive virtual labs. Moreover, addressing AI cheating will become a pressing concern, with educators demanding better support.
As technology continues to evolve, the education sector must adapt to these changes.
The EdTech trends of 2024 and 2025 offer a glimpse into the future of education in Africa, where technology enhances the learning experience, improves outcomes, and bridges gaps. By embracing these trends, educators can create a more effective, accessible, and personalised education system for all.
At Phillips Consulting, we empower organisations to harness the power of EdTech to enhance learning outcomes. Let’s work together to shape the future of digital education. Contact us at enquiry@phillipsconsulting.net to get started!
Written by:
Aderonke Ayoade
Digital Learning