Forum: Time to shift education away from outdated skills, embrace AI?

In my younger days, many of us were compelled – sometimes under threat of corporal punishment – to memorise multiplication tables.

Now, after a shared meal, friends will open their mobile phone’s calculator to split the bill. Even hawkers and cashiers look at the cash register to return the correct change.

Artificial intelligence and expert systems are increasingly taking over basic tasks, including finding facts, using correct grammar, and even analysing medical images.

Given this shift, should we test students’ proficiency in using AI, rather than restrict its use in exams? After all, assessment has evolved from banning scientific calculators to embracing open-book exams.

When automatic cars replaced manual ones, driving became much easier, removing the need to master gear shifting and clutch control. As a result, learner drivers can now focus on developing safer and more effective driving techniques.

Could education benefit from a similar shift – away from outdated skills to future-ready competencies?

Boon Chuan Whee