AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ETHICAL CHALLENGES OF AI IN EDUCATION MANAGEMENT: DATA PRIVACY, BIAS, AND EQUITY IN DECISION MAKING

The study examined the ethical challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education management, focusing on data privacy, bias, and equity in decision-making within higher institutions in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Guided by three objectives, the study investigated the ethical concerns associated with data privacy, the extent to which AI applications reflect bias, and the role of AI in promoting equity in institutional decision-making. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a population comprising undergraduate students, academic staff, and administrators from selected tertiary institutions in the state. A sample of 300 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Ethical Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Education Management Questionnaire (ECAIEMQ)”, validated by experts in Educational Management and Measurement, with a reliability coefficient of 0.79 established using the Cronbach Alpha method. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that ethical concerns regarding data privacy and bias are significant, while AI’s potential to promote equity is recognized but hindered by infrastructural and digital literacy gaps. The study recommends establishing robust AI data privacy frameworks, implementing bias monitoring mechanisms, and promoting equity-focused policies to ensure fair and ethical use of AI in higher institutions.