{
  "id": 17151300,
  "title": "Can AI teach kids to think? Malaysia’s classroom tech push faces a reality check",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/can-ai-teach-kids-to-think-malaysias-classroom-tech-push-faces-a",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-30T00:00:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3372605/can-ai-teach-kids-think-malaysias-classroom-tech-push-faces-reality-check"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's initiative to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms has encountered challenges, as parents, teachers, and educational authorities grapple with the implications. While some, like tech worker Pravin Ganesan, see AI's potential in simplifying complex concepts for children, concerns over the impact on students' understanding, digital inequality, and teacher preparedness persist.\n\nAcknowledging the enthusiasm among parents and educators, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cautioned against prioritizing technology over the values and character development of students. He emphasized that while AI lacks inherent values or humanity, intellect alone is insufficient for a person's development. Anwar encouraged students to balance technological advancements with the Malay concept of akal budi, which combines intellectual capability with moral character.\n\nUnder Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's guidance, Malaysia has rolled out AI tools in schools. Over half a million students are currently utilizing state-approved AI tools through the Digital Education Learning and Innovation Management platform (DELIMa). The government's AI-Powered Classrooms project aims to extend AI integration to 800 schools by late 2027, accounting for approximately five million students nationwide. Despite these advancements, the Education Ministry prioritizes maintaining the quality of education and ensuring teachers remain pivotal in nurturing critical thinking and fostering human connections.\n\nHowever, teacher representatives have raised concerns about teachers' preparedness for AI integration. The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) highlighted a lack of specific training for teachers on using the AI tools provided by the Ministry of Education, warning that millions in public resources might be wasted without proper instruction. They called for an independent audit to evaluate the effectiveness of state-funded educational applications.\n\nDespite efforts to ensure responsible AI use, digital divide persists, particularly in rural and indigenous Orang Asli communities, which lack essential infrastructure like reliable electricity, stable internet connectivity, and laptops. For parents like Pravin, the next focus is on educating students on using AI effectively to enhance understanding rather than merely delivering answers.",
  "summary": "While many parents still question whether to give their children access to artificial intelligence, Malaysian tech worker Pravin Ganesan has embraced it to solve a very practical problem: helping his eight-year-old daughter with homework he sometimes struggles to explain. Pravin, 42, taught her a few basic prompts and checked the answers closely, finding that generative AI is particularly good at…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}