Teacher's Day in Peru: AI challenges a historical debt in teacher training

Peruvian teachers are marking Teacher's Day this year against a backdrop of rapid technological change, with artificial intelligence emerging as a central challenge to the education system. The conversation has moved beyond basic digital access, focusing instead on whether educational institutions are equipped to teach in an age where students can instantly access information via AI.

Peru's Ministry of Education has responded by launching AI training programs, with over 87,000 teachers participating. However, the swift evolution of AI technology far outpaces the updating of teaching competencies. Simultaneously, a significant majority of university students (95%) are already using AI for academic tasks, according to a report by edtech firm uDocz. Yet, more than half of these students feel unprepared to fully leverage these tools, and six out of ten worry that this lack of preparation will widen educational disparities.

Former Minister of Education Óscar Becerra emphasizes that the debate should not solely revolve around teachers' ability to use specific AI applications like ChatGPT. Instead, he argues, the critical question is what capabilities teachers need to cultivate in students for an AI-influenced world. "If a teacher lacks training, capacity, or information, they can ask artificial intelligence for it today. What technology will never give us is critical judgment," Becerra stated in an interview with La República.

Becerra points to a "historical debt" in teacher training in Peru, acknowledging improvements in teacher salaries but criticizing the state's failure to establish continuous professional development and strengthen meritocracy. He notes that many teachers invest their own money in training, sometimes acquiring certificates instead of genuine education. This situation, he clarifies, is not solely the fault of educators, as he understands the deep commitment teachers have to their students, stemming from his own family background in teaching. PISA 2022 results reportedly support his diagnosis of the training deficit.

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If a teacher lacks training, capacity, or information, they can ask artificial intelligence for it today. What technology will never give us is critical judgment.