RNS: On the occasion of the International Day of Education, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed education as a fundamental human right and crucial for both individual and societal development. In his message, he underscored the importance of education in unlocking potential and driving economic growth, while also addressing the opportunities and risks associated with technological advances, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Guterres acknowledged AI’s potential to enhance education by providing greater access to information and learning tools for students and teachers but also warned about the risks of misalignments between human intentions and AI-driven impacts. He called for careful and ethical use of AI in education, emphasizing that human rights and agency must remain central to its development.
This year, UNESCO is focusing on AI’s role in education, with Director-General Audrey Azoulay urging increased investment in training for both teachers and students. She highlighted the importance of ethical principles to guide AI deployment in schools and the need for AI to complement, not replace, human elements of learning.
However, the use of AI in education remains divisive. Data from UNESCO reveals that while over two-thirds of secondary school students in high-income countries are using AI tools, only 10% of educational institutions have formal guidelines for AI use. Additionally, nearly 40% of nations have imposed restrictions, such as mobile phone bans in schools, as part of efforts to control new technologies.
The UN also highlighted the persistent barriers to education, with 250 million children and youth still out of school globally. Despite progress, issues like gender inequality, conflict, and social barriers continue to prevent access to quality education for many children.
In closing, Guterres emphasized the need for education systems worldwide to keep humanity at the center, ensuring safe, inclusive, and high-quality education for all.
