CHIATECH JOURNAL · Registered Version of Record

Responsible Digital Technology Adoption in Nigerian Secondary STEM Education: A Rights, Religious-Pluralism and Child-Safeguarding Framework

1. Peter Ukule
   ¹Department of Christian Studies and Religious Communication, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Digital platforms, learning analytics and generative artificial intelligence may widen access to STEM resources, support teachers and enable new forms of inquiry. They may also collect children's data, mediate speech and belief, amplify bias, expose learners to harm or displace accountable human judgment. This normative policy review examines responsible adoption in Nigerian secondary STEM education through constitutional rights, child-rights standards, data-protection law, education policy and international ethical guidance. It proposes the RIGHTS framework: Rights and best interests; Inclusion and equitable access; Governance of data and vendors; Human agency and pedagogical purpose; Trust, transparency and contestability; and Safeguarding across the technology lifecycle. Religious pluralism is treated as a rights and professional-practice issue: public education should neither impose nor disparage belief, and digital systems should support age-appropriate inquiry without profiling, stereotyping or coercion. The framework specifies a pre-procurement assessment, proportionate data controls, accessibility and offline alternatives, human review of consequential outputs, reporting and remedy pathways, and periodic exit decisions. It is a legal-ethical and policy synthesis, not legal advice, an empirical survey or a theological adjudication. Nigerian schools and authorities should obtain competent legal and safeguarding review for particular deployments. Responsible innovation is defined not by tool novelty but by demonstrated educational value, lawful and minimal data use, child participation, pluralism, safety and accountable human control.

Keywords: children's rights; digital education; religious pluralism; safeguarding; data protection; Nigeria; artificial intelligence

Licence: CC BY 4.0

Published by CHIA TECH SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES LIMITED. ISSN assignment remains pending.