Lee Kim Shin: The Rise of Technology and AI Makes Teaching Profession Increasingly Challenging

(Miri, 24th) Sarawak Minister of Transport and Niah Assemblyman, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin pointed out that with the rapid development of technology and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the teaching profession is becoming more challenging than ever before.

He said the current educational environment is more complex and drastically different compared to 10 to 20 years ago, and teachers have to cope with unprecedented pressures and challenges.

"In this era, the job of teachers is increasingly difficult. The world has changed greatly over the past 20 years. Today, technology, especially artificial intelligence, plays an important role in the classroom."

Lee Kim Shin stated this during the opening of the 22nd Annual General Meeting of the Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) Miri Branch and the 2024/2025 "Model Teacher Award" (Bintang Setia Guru, abbreviated as BSG), Teacher Academic Encouragement Certificate, Member's Child Excellence Scholarship, and New Member Recruitment Incentive Award Ceremony at the banquet hall of the Pullman Miri Waterfront Hotel this morning.

He reminded that although technology can serve as a teaching aid, it should not be overly relied upon.

"In the past, students had to spend a lot of time conducting genuine research and deep thinking to complete a paper; but now, with the help of AI, academic works can be generated with just a few clicks."

He stated that while tools like AI can bring convenience to teaching and learning, they may also devalue true academic effort.

He further added that teachers now must continuously adapt to digital transformation, such as learning new teaching tools, integrating electronic devices in the classroom, and supervising students' use of technology, often without sufficient training or support.

"The trend of digitized education is irreversible, but technology must be used wisely and cautiously."

He emphasized that it's not just about having these tools, but more importantly, knowing how to use them effectively.

"We have already seen that if technology is used well, it can indeed be a good aid in teaching, but there are also pros and cons."