Challenges of Integrating AI in School Administration
An Explorative Study of Secondary School Heads of District Larkana
Abstract
Globally, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a growing trend in terms of enhancing the efficacy of work and making suitable decision in every field particularly in educational administration. However, the major aim present study was to explore the challenges encountered by the institutional heads of secondary schools at Larkana District in integrating AI in their leadership. Qualitative research design was adopted and semi-structured interviews as data gathering tool to study the in-depth perceptions of school heads. The study involved all the institutional heads of secondary school of District Larkana as population while, took data from the 30. The analysis of data was done by utilizing the thematic analysis. The findings disclosed that there various challenges that hinder the successful adoption of AI in administration of school. The challenges are unreliable infrastructure, limited continuous professional development programs, pedagogical boundaries, technical challenges and support, limited cost, and biased assessment. This study recommended that there is dire need strategic planning to overcome these challenges.
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Secondary Education, Educational Administration
References
Adams, D., Cheah, K.S.L., Thien, L.M. and Md Yusoff, N.N. (2021), “Leading schools through the COVID-19 crisis in a South-East Asian country”, Management in Education, Vol. 38 No. 2, pp. 72-78, doi: 10.1177/08920206211037738.
Alordiah, C. O. (2023a). Appreciating the AI revolution: Empowering educational researchers through AI tools for writing research articles. Zamfara International Journal of Humanities (ZAMFARA IJOH), 2(1), 178-191. https://doi.org/zamijoh.2023.v02i01.013
Alordiah, C. O. (2023b). Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence Tools: Adaptation Strategies in the Higher Education Sector. (2023). Propellers Journal of Education, 2(1), 53- 65. https://ijvocter.com/pjed/article/view/68
Bernacki, M. L., J. A. Greene, and H. Crompton. 2020. “Mobile Technology, Learning, and Achievement: Advances in Understanding and Measuring the Role of Mobile Technology in Education.” Contemporary Educational Psychology 60: 101827. https://doi.org/ 10.1016j.cedpsych. 2019.101827.
Binns, R. (2018). Fairness in machine learning: Lessons from political philosophy. J. Mach. Learn. Res. 81, 1–11.
Bogdan, R. and Biklen, S. (2007), Qualitative Research for Education: an Introduction to Theories and Methods, Pearson A & B, Boston.
Bozkurt, A., and Sharma, R. C. (2023). Challenging the status quo and exploring the new boundaries in the age of algorithms: Reimagining the role of generative AI in distance education and online learning. Asian J. Distance Educ. 18, i–viii. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7755273.
Chaeh, Y., and Kim, J. (2025). STEM teachers’ perceptions, familiarity, and support needs for integrating generative artificial intelligence in K-12 education. Sch. Sci. Math. 1–16. doi: 10.1111/ssm.18334
Cheah, Y. H., Lu, J., and Kim, J. (2025). Integrating generative artificial intelligence in K-12 education: Examining teachers’ preparedness, practices, and barriers. Comput. Educ.: Artif. Intell. doi: 10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100363.
Chen, X., H. Xie, D. Zou, and G. J. Hwang. 2020. “Application and Theory Gaps during the Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Education.” Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence 1: 100002. https://doi.org/10. 1016j.caeai.2020.100002.
Crawford, A., and Wu, C. (2024). Riding the AI Wave: What’s Happening in K-12 Education?. Washington, DC: Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
Creswell, J.W. (2014), Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Dexter, S. (2018), “The role of leadership for information technology in education: systems of practices”, in Voogt, J., Knezek, G., Christensen, R. and Lai, K.W. (Eds), Second Handbook of Information Technology in Primary and Secondary Education, Springer International Handbooks of Education, Springer, Cham.
Durff, L., and Carter, M. (2019). Overcoming second-order barriers to technology integration in K–5 schools. J. Educ. Res. Pract. 9, 246–260. doi: 10.5590/JERAP.2019. 09.1.18
European Commission. 2022. Ethical Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Data in Teaching and Learning for educators. Brussels: European Commission.
Filgueiras, F. (2023). Artificial intelligence and education governance. Education Citizenship and Social Justice,174619792311606–174619792311606. https://doi.org/10.1177/17461979231160674
Fullan, M., Azorín, C., Harris, A., & Jones, M. (2024). Artificial intelligence and school leadership: challenges, opportunities and implications. School Leadership & Management, 44(4), 339-346.
Göçen, A., & AYDEMİR, F. (2020). Artificial Intelligence in Education and Schools. Research on Education and Media, 12(1), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.2478/rem-2020-0003
Goh, K.M. and Mansor, M. (2024), “Unpacking the realities of digital leadership among school leaders: a quantitative study”, Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), Vol. 9 No. 4, e002801, doi: 10.47405/mjssh.v9i4.2801.
Holmes, W., Bialik, M., and Fadel, C. (2019). Artificial Intelligence in Education: Promises and Implications for Teaching and Learning. Boston, MA: Center for Curriculum Redesign.
Hargreaves, S. 2023. “‘Words Are Flowing Out Like Endless Rain Into a Paper Cup’: ChatGPT & Law School Assessments.” The Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law Research Paper (2023-03).
Hartman, S., Johnson, J., Showalter, D., Eppley, K., and Klein, B. (2023). Why rural matters 2023: Centering equity and opportunity: A discussion with the research team. Rural Educator 44, 69–71. doi: 10.55533/2643-9662.1441
Joseph, O. B., and Uzondu, N. C. (2024). Integrating AI and machine learning in STEM education: Challenges and opportunities. Comput. Sci. IT Res. J. 5, 1732–1750. doi: 10.51594/csitrj.v5i8.1379
Kim, J., & Wargo, E. (2025, April). Empowering educational leaders for AI integration in rural STEM education: Challenges and strategies. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 10, p. 1567698). Frontiers Media SA.
Laferrière, T., Hamel, C., and Searson, M. (2013). Barriers to successful implementation of technology integration in educational settings: A case study. J. Comput. Assist. Learn. 29, 463–473. doi: 10.1111/jcal.12034
Lien, C.M., Khan, S. and Eid, J. (2022), “School principals’ experiences and learning from the Covid19 pandemic in Norway”, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 65 No. 5, pp. 775-790, doi: 10.1080/00313831.2022.2043430.
Manafa, I.F., Ohamobi, I.N. & Osegbue, G.C. (2022). Utilization of ICT resources in the management of UBE in secondary schools in Anambra State. African Journal of Educational Management, Teaching and Entrepreneurship Studies, 7(1), 119-128
Miller, R. L. (2018). Rogers' innovation diffusion theory (1962, 1995). In Technology adoption and social issues: Concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications (pp. 1558-1571). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Ming, G.K., Mansor, M. and Syariff, M.F. (2023), “Bibliometric analysis on digital leadership in the Scopus database using Rstudio bibliometrix”, International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 1219-1234, doi: 10.6007/IJARPED/ v12-i4/19175.
Mitrovic, A., B. du Boulay, and K. Yacef. 2023. Handbook of Artificial Intelligence in Education. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Mollick, E. R., and L. Mollick. 2022. New Modes of Learning Enabled by AI Chatbots: Three Methods and Assignments. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4300783 or doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4300783.
Mustafa, F., Nguyen, H. T. M., and Gao, X. A. (2024). The challenges and solutions of technology integration in rural schools: A systematic literature review. Int. J. Educ. Res. 126:102380. doi: 10.1016/j.ijer.2024.102380
Ng, D. T. K., Chan, E. K. C., & Lo, C. K. (2025). Opportunities, challenges and school strategies for integrating generative AI in education. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 8, 100373.
Ohamobi, I.N., Anaeche, I.C., Oguejiofo, C.S., Osegbue, G.C., Obi, I.E., Onyekazi, P.I. & Anagor, N.A. (2024). Professional development of teachers as correlates of teachers’ job commitment in public secondary schools in Anambra State. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 24(2), 63-73.
Osegbue, G. C., Ekwe, N. I., & Ogaga, S. A. (2025). Artificial intelligence and the future of school leadership. Nigerian Journal of Social Psychology, 8(1).
Ouyan, F. 2023. Artificial Intelligence in STEM Education. The Paradigmatic Shifts in Research, Education, and Technology. Florida, USA: CRC Press.
Raman, A. and Thannimalai, R. (2019), “Importance of technology leadership for technology integration”, Gender and Professional Development Perspective, Vol. 9 No. 4, doi: 10.1177/ 2158244019893707.
Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edn. Mumbai: Free Press.
Showalter, D., Hartman, S. L., Eppley, K., Johnson, J., and Klein, R. (2023). Why Rural Matters: Centering Equity and Opportunity. Chattanooga, TN: National Rural Education Association.
Thannimalai, R. and Raman, A. (2018), “The influence of principals’ technology leadership and professional development on teachers’ technology integration in secondary schools”, Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 203-228, doi: 10.32890/mjli2018.15.1.8.
UNESCO. 2021a. AI and Education. Guidance for Policy Makers. Paris: UNESCO
UNESCO. 2023. Global Education Monitoring Report. Technology in Education. A Tool on Whose Terms?. Paris: UNESCO.
Wang, Y. (2020). When artificial intelligence meets educational leaders’ data-informed decision-making: A cautionary tale. Studies In Educational Evaluation, 69, 100872– 100872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2020.100872
Wang, Y. (2021). Artificial intelligence in educational leadership: a symbiotic role of humanartificial intelligence decision-making. Journal of Educational Administration, 59(3), 256–270. https://doi.org/10.1108/jea-10-2020-0216
Wargo, E. S., and Simmons, J. (2021). Technology storylines: A narrative analysis of the rural education research. Rural Educ. 42, 35–50. doi: 10.35608/ruraled.v42i2.1240
Zhang, B., and J. Mao. 2023. “On the Teaching and Learning in the Information Age of “Big Data+ Internet?”—Some Thoughts on the Application of ChatGPT in Teaching.” In 2023 2nd International Conference on Educational Innovation and Multimedia Technology (EIMT 2023) (pp. 1005–1016). Atlantis Press, July.
Zhao, Y., D. Yin, L. Wang, and Y. Yu. 2023. “The Rise of Artificial Intelligence, the Fall of Human Wellbeing?” International Journal of Social Welfare, https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12586.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Siazga Research Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
