Artificial intelligence (AI) is often described as education’s great equaliser, delivering personalised learning at scale to give every child the support to succeed. This resonates deeply with me as a believer in EdTech.
The impact of AI, however, is not inherently equal. It is no longer just about what children learn, but also how quickly they do so. Students’ learning outcomes are increasingly determined by the speed at which they receive corrections.
It used to be that they would complete a worksheet, submit it, and then have it returned to them a couple of days later with their mistakes noted. Using AI, responses can immediately be reviewed, errors identified, and explanations provided. Getting guidance earlier reduces the likelihood that misunderstandings will become habits.
In Singapore, where high-stakes exams make tuition common among students, this shift is significant. I experienced this first-hand while coaching my nieces for their PSLE. Despite revising topics, reviewing exam papers, and exploring various approaches, I struggled to pinpoint the exact gaps in their understanding.
Maths fractions were one example. It didn’t matter how many times they practised similar questions; they got word problems wrong. Initially, it seemed like they simply needed more exposure to similar questions.
Over time, I realised the issue wasn’t always the same. They sometimes misunderstood fractions. Other times, they misread multi-step problem sums or second-guessed methods they already knew. On paper, the mistakes looked identical, making it difficult to identify the real gap right away. Only when we managed to provide immediate and specific feedback did their learning speed up.
EFFECTIVELY DIRECTING EFFORT
As such, effort alone is often insufficient. Many parents respond to learning gaps by increasing workload—more worksheets, more tuition, more revision. In the absence of clarity, additional effort can reinforce the same errors. The challenge is no longer a question of whether students are working hard. The question is whether that effort is directed by timely corrections.
Growing up in a humble family, I experienced how education can open doors. I also observed how access to guidance and support—not just effort or ability—often shaped outcomes. Some students progressed with assistance at every step, while others navigated learning largely on their own.
One-to-one tutoring has been recognised as one of the most effective ways of guiding learning for decades. Repeated practice makes tutoring easier to identify weak points, correct misunderstandings, and adapt to the needs of each student in real time.
However, this model remains the least scalable for several reasons. Private tuition can cost thousands of dollars a month, making it out of reach for many families. Tuition availability is also unequal, with some centres reportedly prioritising high-achieving students.
AI can replicate the responsiveness that makes tutoring effective. After every attempt, it identifies gaps quickly, provides step-by-step corrections, and adjusts subsequent questions accordingly. With a feedback loop compressed from days to seconds, learning becomes more adaptive and responsive. In addition, tools like Luminee Learning allow for continuous feedback during practice.
“If AI-powered learning mirrors traditional tuition accessibility, it could reinforce existing inequalities. Bridging this gap requires developing better systems and intentionally distributing these tools to students who need them most.”
Tan Yueh Phern
FEEDBACK ACCELERATES PROGRESS
Students engage differently with learning when they receive correction earlier. By addressing errors before frustration builds, they are more willing to attempt difficult questions.
Giselle, a student in Primary 2, joined one of our community programmes, with little confidence in her learning. Often, she hesitated to answer questions and second-guessed herself. Over time, her approach changed as she received more structured guidance from Luminee Learning.
She became more engaged, and more willing to try. “As I practised in small steps, I finally understood the questions,” she said. “I feel confident now and learning doesn’t seem so scary.”
It is important to note, however, that not everyone has access to such potential. And when this access becomes unequal, gaps widen. If AI-powered learning mirrors traditional tuition accessibility—primarily available to those with greater resources—it could reinforce existing inequalities. Bridging this gap requires developing better systems and intentionally distributing these tools to the students who need them most.
AI therefore serves as a tool that clarifies learning, rather than replacing guidance. Teachers remain at the centre of learning, diagnosing thinking, guiding understanding, and supporting deeper learning with clearer insights. Instead of relying solely on additional practice, parents can also direct their children’s learning more effectively.
In 2025, we introduced Luminee Learning, an AI-powered platform that supports Singapore’s primary school curriculum and students with real-time feedback and targeted practice. As they work through one question after another, Coach Kyu, an AI learning companion, assesses their answers instantly and offers simple explanations and follow-up instructions. This results in a consistent learning loop that allows students to correct misunderstandings as they arise and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
ASSISTING THE UNDERSERVED
Luminee Learning supports more than 2,000 students through more than 15 community programmes and organisations. KiteSense’s partners include Temasek Foundation, Quantedge Foundation, Majurity Trust, and Impact SG, as well as community groups such as South West Community Development Council, Yayasan Mendaki, and the Singapore Indian Development Association.
We introduced Luminee Learning into student care centres at Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura in January 2026, as part of an initiative to support underserved learners beyond the classroom. With funding from donors and the community, beneficiaries receive fully waived premium accounts.
This enables students who lack access to structured learning support to practise consistently at home. Through features like Learning Path, students stay on track with their schoolwork while strengthening weaker foundations via personalised practice and real-time feedback. The support they receive throughout each programme helps them develop stronger learning habits over time, rather than relying on last-minute revisions.
Early results suggest that this approach can meaningfully improve both learning performance and confidence. Our research with Temasek Polytechnic found that students using Luminee Learning improved their average scores by 18 to 25 percent. Meanwhile, 94 percent reported that they felt more confident, while 30 percent said they enjoyed school more.
Besides building on these results through partnerships with like-minded organisations and donors, we are also exploring research collaborations with the Singapore University of Social Sciences to better understand how AI can support children from disadvantaged backgrounds and enhance learning.
These efforts reflect a broader principle: equity in education technology is not defined by what is built, but by who it reaches. And as AI reshapes learning, the real opportunity is to help every child recognise gaps earlier, address them faster, and build the confidence to keep progressing.
