Petaling JayaMalaysian Islamic Teachers Association president Mohamed Azizi Hasan said the Education Ministry's plan to teach the basics of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools from 2027 was commendable.
“But it should be done thoughtfully and effectively.”
He was commenting on a written response given to Parliament by Education Minister Fadlina Sidek on March 21, in which she pledged to develop a skilled workforce with AI knowledge and capabilities to compete in the global economy in the digital age.
“Transformation of the education system will help students adapt to the use of digital technology in today's world, but it must start with addressing basic literacy skills such as reading, writing and counting (3M).”
The ministry had previously said that 435,838 students nationwide have learning disabilities, of which 280,985 are students in grades one to six who have not yet mastered the 3Ms.
“If this issue is not addressed promptly, it will hinder the Ministry of Education's efforts to integrate AI education into school curricula and undermine the effectiveness of those efforts,” Mohammed Azizi said.
He said the integration of AI requires a holistic approach that involves a fundamental shift in thinking and a collaborative effort to realise the full potential of AI in enhancing teaching and learning experiences.
He said the Ministry of Education should proceed with caution and not drastically change the concept of AI in education as this could bring about new issues and challenges.
“This is a good initiative, but it could face potential challenges along the way.
“Students and teachers should start adapting to AI now.
This is especially important for teachers who have to improve their skills while still maintaining traditional teaching methods,” he said.
Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, chairman of the Parents Action Group for Education Malaysia, said it was premature to introduce AI education at the early primary school level.
“Ministers should not be in too much of a hurry to leave a legacy if the time has not yet come to introduce new knowledge.”
“If it's introduced prematurely, especially if teachers lack competency in AI, there's a risk that it will confuse children. It could have disastrous long-term effects.”
Noor Azimah said parents may initially support the idea, but may have concerns about the integration and implementation of AI education if it is not implemented well.
She said failure to address their concerns could lead to a perception that teachers lack skills and capabilities in AI, which could lead to a lack of trust in teachers' abilities.
Subatra Subramaniam, a 46-year-old primary school teacher, said he was initially surprised when the Ministry of Education announced the introduction of AI in education.
But she believes the move provides a good foundation for embracing the digital age.
“It's a bit surprising that elementary school students would be learning about AI, but I believe it will prepare them for future technological advances.”
Another primary school teacher, Siti Shahra Ismail Yapi, 25, expressed concern that over-reliance on AI could weaken students' critical thinking skills.
“It's crucial that students maintain their critical thinking skills, because relying too heavily on AI for tasks that require cognitive effort runs the risk of exhausting their analytical capabilities over time.”
