UAE Education Ministry Emphasizes AI as a Tool to Support Learning, Not Replace Teachers
Mohammed Al Qasim, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Education, has emphasized that artificial intelligence cannot replace teachers, students’ own thinking, or interaction among classmates.

He explained that AI should support and accelerate teaching, helping improve the efficiency of the education system while enabling schools to keep pace with rapid technological developments.

Speaking in an interview with CNN Business, Al Qasim said that integrating artificial intelligence into education should be based on complementing the essential elements of the learning process. Technology, he stressed, should not be used to replace teachers or reduce students’ roles in thinking, learning, and participating in classroom activities.

His remarks highlight the importance of maintaining the human dimension of education as digital tools become increasingly available. While artificial intelligence can contribute to the learning process, the teacher remains a central figure in guiding students and supporting their educational development.

Al Qasim also stressed that AI cannot replace students’ own minds or the interaction they experience with their classmates. Education involves more than obtaining information or finding answers; it also requires independent thinking, participation, and learning through communication with others. These elements remain important parts of the student experience.

 

According to Al Qasim, artificial intelligence can serve as a supporting tool that helps accelerate teaching and complement the wider education system. Its technological capabilities can be used to support educational objectives without removing teachers or students from their essential roles.

The official also highlighted the importance of preparing students to work with AI tools and teaching them how to use these technologies positively. Developing these skills is particularly relevant as education and employment continue to evolve in response to technological change.

Students will need to understand how to benefit from artificial intelligence during their higher education and when they eventually enter the workforce. Helping them use these tools constructively can support their readiness for future academic and professional requirements.

The UAE’s stated approach emphasizes a balance between technological progress and the continuing importance of human involvement in education. Under this approach, artificial intelligence is intended to strengthen teaching and learning rather than replace educators or diminish students’ active participation.

Al Qasim’s comments reinforce the principle that technology should serve educational goals while preserving the teacher’s essential role in guiding students. The broader message is that effective use of artificial intelligence depends not simply on adopting new tools, but on integrating them in ways that support learning and prepare students for the future.