‘Educators lack training, have little clarity on how teaching using artificial intelligence works’
PETALING JAYA: Teachers remain largely unprepared for artificial intelligence (AI)-powered classrooms to be introduced nationwide by 2030, said the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP).
It told theSun that teachers have little clarity on how AI-based teaching is supposed to work.
Its secretary-general Fouzi Singon said Delima, the ministry’s existing digital platform, is not being used to its full potential.
“There are many facilities inside Delima, including digital tools for teaching and self-learning materials, but many teachers themselves don’t even know what is available.
“For example, teachers actually have cloud storage of up to one terabyte, which can be upgraded to two terabytes, but it is not being used.
“There are many tools for teachers and students to explore learning independently but that potential is not fully realised.”
Fouzi said the main factor for this is the lack of training and guidelines.
He said there were currently no discussions among district education offices to draft guidelines, syllabi or structured training programmes to help teachers integrate AI into classroom teaching.
“There is none. Really none at all. No guidelines, no syllabi and no proper software training.
“In the past, when I first started teaching, we had in-house training every week. Now, those training sessions no longer exist. Even district education offices don’t dare to organise training because the costs are high.
“The ministry allocates budgets for resources but in terms of training, there has been no communication. Collaboration with providers like Apple, Google or Microsoft only reaches some schools. Those that are lucky will get it.”
While the ministry has said AI tools would help automate tasks and ease workload, Fouzi said feedback from teachers suggest a mixed response, particularly among senior educators.
“Some senior teachers who are not skilled in it feel it is a burden. Some applications are free, some are paid. That’s why our main issue now is insufficient training.”
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute deputy director Dr Anuar Ahmad echoed these concerns, saying that AI-based learning could widen existing education gaps.
“We fully support AI-based learning but its nature must be inclusive. AI learning must be provided to all students and no one should be left out.
“Many schools may have internet but it is not fast. When it is slow, it does not support effective AI-based learning.
“Apart from that, every classroom must have smart TVs because internet-based learning will be projected through smart TVs and similar tools.
“If those facilities are not available, then AI-based learning cannot be implemented,” Anuar told theSun via WhatsApp.
He said uneven access to basic digital infrastructure could rapidly deepen existing learning inequalities.
“What we learn today may already be outdated in two or three years. So, if some schools have internet and others do not, we can imagine how large the gap will become if we do not ensure that all schools have internet.”
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had said in the Dewan Negara that the AI-powered classroom initiative would be expanded nationwide by 2030.
The initative involves the use of adaptive learning tools, task automation and learning analytics to support teaching and personalise student learning.
She said the rollout is supported by strategic collaborations with 24 technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Huawei, Samsung and MDEC.
