Tarek Gueham : “Train to bridge the skills gap… and contribute to Africa’s digital sovereignty”

By Nadjoua Khelil in Algiers

In the near future, technology will play a central role in daily life. « 65% of today’s children will work in jobs that do not yet exist and will be created by AI in the coming years. Additionally, 60% of current jobs will be replaced by AI systems and robots within the next twenty years, » notes Tarek Gueham, a researcher in information technology, citing expert statistics.

It is precisely in light of the importance of AI and its « impact on the future of our children and our countries » that Gueham, founder and CEO of the Algerian startup Tarik Education Center, decided to « make AI and coding education accessible to all » by launching an innovative and free educational platform, « TARIK », in October 2023.

Democratizing AI Education

« The story behind the creation of the platform is a bit sad. The death of my mother made me reflect. She used to tell me that you can regret many things in life, but never regret learning something new. As learning AI and coding has become an essential necessity, I founded TARIK to democratize AI education, » says the thirty-something, a PhD holder in telecommunications and information processing, IT trainer, and head of radar management in Algeria.

TARIK, dedicated to teaching AI and coding to children aged 4 to 18 through fun video games, already has 1,200 clients and 46 trained instructors. It operates not only in Algeria but also in Egypt, France, Canada, and soon South Africa. For this latter country, « our goal is to integrate AI, coding, and robotics into the educational system of a school with 3,500 students, » Gueham proudly states.

According to him, the platform has its own educational program and pedagogical tools, developed by Algerian talents, with the expertise of educators and enriched through the involvement of children. « Their contribution was essential in shaping an engaging and effective learning experience. » Thus, the content is a truly playful and immersive adventure. « We pushed the boundaries of technological education by developing a technology that allows even a six-year-old child to design advanced AI models and master coding in a simple and fun way through games, where they become the creators. » Moreover, personalized tracking of learners’ progress is ensured.

Developing sustainable skills to tackle tomorrow’s challenges with creativity

AI education for children is crucial: it allows them to become creators of technology, not just consumers. « AI is even redefining how we interact with our environment. Introducing children early to these concepts, as with TARIK, stimulates creativity, develops critical thinking, and prepares them to be innovators. » The platform’s goal is to « inspire them to develop sustainable skills to tackle tomorrow’s challenges with creativity. »

This is done through learning that is « adapted » to new economic challenges and familiarizing with real-world challenges and situations to adapt to changes. Other content also aims to guide learners in the responsible use of AI, raise awareness of digital threats, and instill eco-responsible behavior.

Preparing younger generations to become agents of change

At the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, training in AI and digital technologies is a crucial priority for Africa, particularly to address the challenge of human capital, which is essential for the continent’s digital sovereignty. « The early acquisition of these skills prepares younger generations to become agents of this change, capable of addressing local challenges with local solutions. Investing in technological education can bridge the skills gap in Africa, meet the growing demands of the labor market, and thus contribute to its digital sovereignty. Leading Africa into an autonomous and prosperous digital era. »