Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Prepares Steps to Ensure Artificial Intelligence Does Not Make Students Lazy

Jakarta — The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti has prepared measures to ensure that the use and learning of artificial intelligence (AI) does not make students lazy.

He stated that the ministry is prepared to combine this technological advancement with conventional or traditional learning methods.

“We will combine that with what we might call conventional or traditional learning models,” said Minister Mu’ti after signing a Joint Decree (SKB) on guidelines for the use and learning of digital technology and artificial intelligence in education at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development, Jakarta, on Thursday.

One aspect of this combination, he said, involves encouraging handwriting activities in teaching and learning both in the classroom and as homework for students, such as writing summaries after reading a book or watching educational video content.

He believes that encouraging a return to handwriting rather than typing will indirectly train students’ hand motor skills whilst exercising their cognitive abilities in organising and expressing ideas in written form.

“We are now beginning to restore this approach, so we are combining the use of modern educational technology with what we might call traditional learning systems,” Mu’ti stated firmly.

On a previous occasion, Mu’ti also emphasised that the inclusion of coding and artificial intelligence subjects is safe and supports student learning activities, including those under 16 years of age.

“The use of coding and AI in schools is firstly to provide skills and the ability to use coding and AI. Secondly, it is to support learning activities. So it is not completely open-ended,” said Mu’ti.