The growing use of artificial intelligence in education is prompting calls for schools to establish clearer policies on how students can use the technology without compromising the quality of learning.
Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos said higher education stakeholders need to discuss the role of AI among students as schools face questions over how the technology should be used in academic settings.
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Balancing AI Use and Academic Rigor
“To ban or not to ban AI use in our schools is the burning question that we must answer soon,” Bernos said.
Her call followed the University of the Philippines College of Law’s announcement of a new AI policy. The institution cited a considerable decline in the quality of arguments and discourse among students, as well as concerns from employers about graduates becoming AI-dependent.
The development reflects a broader challenge for schools as AI tools become more accessible to students. While these technologies can provide additional support for learning and research, their growing use has also raised questions about how much assistance is appropriate without weakening students’ ability to think and work independently.
Bernos said AI is here to stay, making it important for schools to prepare students for a technology-driven future rather than simply treating the technology as something to be avoided.
Preparing Students for an AI-Driven Future
The discussion now centers on how educational institutions can establish policies that allow students to benefit from AI while preserving the standards expected in higher education. Clear guidelines could help define acceptable uses of AI while maintaining the importance of independent reasoning, analysis and academic work.
For Filipino students and educators, the policies developed today could influence how the next generation enters a workplace increasingly shaped by automation and emerging technologies. A balanced approach can help students become capable users of AI while ensuring that technology complements, rather than replaces, the skills and critical thinking they need to succeed.
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