AI coming to primary and secondary schools to maximize learning by machine

A mother of a fifth-grade student, surnamed Li, says that AI has sparked her daughter's interest in making PowerPoint slides and generating AI templates.

"I hope she will be inspired by this and get to know computer technologies," says Li.

Teachers and parents have also shown concern about the use of AI in the study.

"AI-generated teaching material still has its limitations," says Ni Lili, a teacher at Xinyilu Primary School. "Presentations, speeches and supplementary materials produced by AI often lack personalization and do not fully reflect a teacher's particular style.

"Additionally, AI-generated images and multimedia content sometimes do not align precisely with the given descriptions, requiring manual adjustment," she says.

Parents also expressed concerns that excessive reliance on AI may weaken problem-solving abilities.

"When my child encounters a difficult question, her first instinct is to ask AI for the answer instead of thinking through the problem herself," Li says.

Education experts emphasize that AI should serve as a tool to support student thinking rather than as a substitute for independent reasoning.

"AI in education should focus on guided learning, helping students develop problem-solving skills, rather than simply providing answers," one expert says.

In February 2024, 184 schools were chosen as pilot centers to explore the philosophies, models and programs of AI education. The goal is to develop exemplary cases and experience that can be promoted on a larger scale.

In order to support the integration of AI into basic education, the Ministry of Education issued a directive in late 2024 outlining key objectives for advancing AI in primary and secondary education.

The plan aims to establish a structured AI curriculum, promote AI-driven teaching and assessment, and achieve full AI education in primary and secondary schools by 2030, equipping students with AI literacy and practical skills.