The International Day of Education, declared by the UN General Assembly's resolution dated December 3, 2018, aims to remind people that the right to education is one of the most important human rights, and to highlight the responsibility of states in this area, as well as the importance of ensuring equal and inclusive education in combating poverty and gender inequality. Today, the UN and UNESCO call on governments and organizations to consider universal quality education a top priority and to cooperate globally.
AzEdu.az reports that the UN and UNESCO have dedicated this year's International Day of Education to artificial intelligence (AI) and are holding it under the motto “Human Factor in an Automated World”.
The organizations' statement on this matter noted: “UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has decided to dedicate the 2025 International Day of Education to the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence. She calls on UNESCO member states to invest in training for both teachers and students to responsibly use this technology in education”.
A UN report states that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in education. In high-income countries, more than two-thirds of secondary school students already use generative artificial intelligence tools to prepare school assignments. Teachers are also increasingly using artificial intelligence to prepare for lessons and evaluate students' work. School instructions and admissions, traditionally managed by teachers and experts, are also gradually being determined by AI.
Addressing problems in this area, UNESCO notes: “However, education professionals still lack clear guidelines regarding these practices. According to a UNESCO survey conducted among 450 institutions in May 2023, currently only 10 percent of schools and universities have an official framework for the use of artificial intelligence. By 2022, only 7 countries had developed AI frameworks or programs for their teachers, and 15 had included AI training objectives in their national curricula. At the same time, more and more countries are imposing restrictions on the use of new technologies in the classroom. According to new UNESCO data, almost 40 percent of countries currently have a law or policy prohibiting the use of mobile phones in schools. This is 24 percent higher than the figure in July 2023”.
UNESCO also notes that key priorities for governments are well-managed and excellently equipped schools, and well-trained and highly paid teachers motivated by their mission.
