Education Minister Fernando Alexandre says the new guidelines will be non-binding, allowing schools to adapt to technological developments while prioritising student learning.
The Minister of Education, Science and Innovation stated today that the new guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools will not be binding, prioritizing a pedagogical approach that allows schools to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology.
"These are guidelines," Fernando Alexandre told the Lusa news agency, on the sidelines of the World Conference on the Development of Vocational and Technical Education, which is taking place in the Chinese city of Tianjin.
The official explained that AI offers opportunities for developing students' skills and improving teaching practices but also presents risks that evolve as new applications emerge.
"One of the messages in the guidelines is precisely the ability to adapt to the new applications and possibilities that are emerging," he stated.
According to Fernando Alexandre, the goal is to help schools and teachers use technology effectively, prioritizing the improvement of learning.
The minister stressed that the development of digital skills is central to the government's strategy but warned that the introduction of new tools in schools must be accompanied by rules and an assessment of their benefits.
As an example, he pointed to the regulation of mobile phone use in schools and the reduction in the use of digital textbooks in the last two years.
"What has happened in the last two years is a significant reduction in the use of digital textbooks, precisely because the evidence of their benefit was not obvious," he stated.
AI guidelines open for public consultation
Fernando Alexandre explained that the guidelines on artificial intelligence are the result of work developed over the past year, which involved consulting various entities and collecting hundreds of contributions.
The document, which was put out for public consultation on Thursday, now aims to gather further contributions from schools and the educational community.
The minister also revealed that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is monitoring the reform of the Portuguese education system, should also contribute to the document, particularly in the area of digital transformation.
AI’s role in student assessment
When asked about the possibility of increasing the weight of oral and in-person exams in assessing students' knowledge, at a time when many assignments are carried out using artificial intelligence, Fernando Alexandre considered this concern to be particularly relevant in higher education.
"In primary and secondary education, this doesn't have much relevance," he stated, referring to the weight of work done outside the classroom in student assessments.
The governor acknowledged, however, that the use of artificial intelligence has implications for both teaching and assessment.
"These guidelines affect not only teaching, but also assessment," he emphasized.
Fernando Alexandre recalled that, as a university professor, he had already changed the assessment model for a subject in 2022 due to the use of artificial intelligence tools.
"In 2022, I changed the assessment during the semester itself because it had an essay component, and it was changed to oral presentations," he stated.