TEACHERS VS AI: WHO WILL EDUCATE THE FUTURE GENERATION?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a key player in the world of education. On one hand, it accelerates the learning process and eases teachers’ workloads. Yet, the critical question remains: can AI fully replace teachers?
Today, AI is more than just a support tool. It can provide instant feedback, assist students with assignments, and even expedite scientific experiments. However, there is one thing AI cannot replicate, the human touch in education. Teachers are not merely transmitters of knowledge; they are mentors who offer emotional support and shape students’ critical thinking.
AI AS AN ASSISTANT, NOT A REPLACEMENT
AI can take over routine tasks such as grading or delivering brief explanations. But it cannot replace the human connection between teachers and students. For instance, AI cannot interpret the anxious expression of a student or guide them through emotional hurdles that hinder learning. A teacher knows when a student truly understands and provides the encouragement needed to help them reach their full potential. As Senator Dr. Dana Dixon, Minister of Education Jamaica, stated:
“Technology can’t replace that teacher. The technology can just assist, can enable the teacher in the classroom, but the centrality of it is about the teacher.” (Jamaica Observer, 2025)
THE IMPACT OF AI ON EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA
The integration of AI into Malaysia’s education system is gaining momentum, especially with the inclusion of technological elements in the Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM). AI helps align curriculum content and improves education quality by offering more personalized and dynamic learning materials. Teachers can adapt their teaching methods to suit student needs, bridging academic gaps and focusing on the development of critical thinking skills. Additionally, AI supports continuous monitoring of student progress, making assessments more accurate and efficient.
Nonetheless, to fully harness these benefits, teachers must be adequately trained to use the technology wisely. Their role remains crucial in ensuring AI does not diminish students’ social interaction or critical thinking capabilities.
CONCLUSION: TEACHERS REMAIN IRREPLACEABLE
Despite AI’s growing sophistication, the role of teachers remains irreplaceable. AI should be viewed as an aid, not a substitute. True education is not just about delivering facts, t’s about shaping human beings with empathy, awareness, and critical thought. Teachers are more than knowledge providers; they are mentors who nurture the soul, uplift students in moments of despair, and inspire them to dream.
Teachers know when to offer encouragement, when to listen without judgment, and when to support without saying a word. They look beyond academic performance and recognize hidden potential in every student.
No algorithm can replace the warmth of a teacher’s comforting voice or the knowing look that restores a student’s confidence. Technology may streamline the process, but only teachers can forge the deep, lasting connections that transform lives
Thus, no matter how powerful technology becomes, education will always be rooted in human relationships. Teachers will never be replaced, for they don’t just teach, they shape the future.
Authors:
NURSYAFAWANI BINTI SARKAWI
Master’s Student in Physics Education, FSM, UPSI
MOHD MOKHZANI IBRAHIM
Lecturer, Faculty of Science & Mathematics, UPSI
