Artificial Intelligence in Technical and Vocational Education: Implications for Teaching Effectiveness, Skills Acquisition, and Workforce Readiness in Government Technical Schools in Mfoundi Division, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative technologies of the twenty first century, revolutionizing education through intelligent teaching, personalized learning, automated assessment, and enhanced skills development (UNESCO, 2021; Holmes et al., 2022). Within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Artificial Intelligence is increasingly recognized as an important educational innovation capable of improving teaching effectiveness, facilitating practical skills acquisition, and preparing learners for occupations shaped by automation and digital transformation (OECD, 2023). The increasing demand for technologically competent graduates has compelled educational institutions to integrate Artificial Intelligence into instructional processes to equip learners with technical competence, digital literacy, creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills required in the twenty first century labour market (ILO, 2024; World Economic Forum, 2025). Despite these global developments, the integration of Artificial Intelligence into Government Technical Schools in Mfoundi Division, Yaoundé, remains limited, although the division constitutes the educational and administrative centre of Cameroon with a high concentration of secondary and technical institutions. This study examined the influence of Artificial Intelligence on teaching effectiveness, skills acquisition, and workforce readiness in Government Technical Schools in Mfoundi Division, Yaoundé. Specifically, the study sought to determine the extent to which Artificial Intelligence improves teaching effectiveness, promotes learners' acquisition of technical and employability skills, and identifies the major institutional challenges affecting its integration into Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The study adopted a mixed methods research design involving 327 respondents selected through appropriate sampling procedures. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, semi structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis to complement the quantitative findings (Creswell & Creswell, 2023). The findings revealed that Artificial Intelligence significantly improves teaching effectiveness by enhancing lesson preparation, facilitating learner centered instruction, increasing classroom interaction, strengthening continuous assessment, and improving access to quality instructional resources. The study further established that Artificial Intelligence contributes significantly to the acquisition of technical competence, digital literacy, communication, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving skills that are increasingly demanded by contemporary industries (UNESCO, 2021; World Economic Forum, 2025). Nevertheless, inadequate digital infrastructure, limited teacher competence, insufficient financial resources, weak institutional support, and inconsistent policy implementation remain major barriers to the effective integration of Artificial Intelligence within Government Technical Schools. The study concludes that Artificial Intelligence possesses enormous potential to transform Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Mfoundi Division by improving teaching effectiveness, strengthening learners' skills acquisition, and enhancing workforce readiness. The study recommends increased government investment in digital infrastructure, continuous professional development for teachers, curriculum reforms that integrate Artificial Intelligence competencies, stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry, and comprehensive national policies that promote responsible and equitable implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training.