AI in schools risks critical thinking, ministry trains 200 teachers

The Ministry of Education and Science says the spread of artificial intelligence tools in secondary schools brings risks to students' ability to think critically, and has begun training teachers to manage those dangers.

About 200 teachers from 80 schools completed a nine-month training program and received certificates on October 8, 2026. The trained educators are expected to guide pupils on how to use AI tools responsibly and to spot misuse.

Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science, warned of deeper consequences when pupils rely uncritically on AI. "They can become attached to the agent they communicate with and become dependent on the tool they use, which would of course disconnect them from the real world with all the additional negative consequences that follow. They may stop thinking much, lose their creativity. These are exactly the problems that teachers must notice and take measures against," Janevska said.

Janevska acknowledged that cheating will persist among young people but framed it as part of youthful curiosity that teachers should channel. "There will always be cheating and that's a characteristic of youth and curiosity and one of their good qualities. Students try to explore all possibilities of artificial intelligence, but that's why teachers and higher education institutions are here — to guide them on what is good and what is not," she added.

Among the measures mentioned to reduce misuse, the ministry reiterated that the ban on mobile phones during lessons remains in force. Authorities say limiting unsupervised access to the internet and AI on personal devices is part of preventing abuse.

Education officials emphasize the programme's dual aim: to curb potential misinformation and dependency on automated tools while teaching pupils to evaluate AI outputs critically and preserve creativity.

Photo: press material from the event