Teachers call for clear national rules on AI in schools

Teachers are calling for clearer rules on how artificial intelligence can be used in schools, SVT reports, saying they lack guidance as the technology develops rapidly.

At Hedvig Eleonora School in Stockholm, both pupils and teachers use AI. Ulrika Liljeqvist, who teaches Swedish, social studies and English to fourth-graders, said the technology helps her plan lessons and gives her more time to focus on building relationships with pupils.

There are no national guidelines on AI use in schools, leaving much of the responsibility to individual teachers. In a survey sent by SVT’s children’s news programme Lilla Aktuellt to its teacher panel, many respondents said they lacked support and guidance on when pupils should be allowed to use AI.

AI analyst Johan Falk said he wants a national standard setting a minimum level of AI knowledge for schools. Without national direction, he said, rules are left to individual teachers or principals, which can widen gaps between schools.

Education Minister Simona Mohamsson and Minister for Upper Secondary and Higher Education Lotta Edholm declined to be interviewed, citing the caretaker government. In a written response, Edholm said research showed digital tools should be used restrictively and selectively, particularly with younger pupils who are building foundational skills.

The survey received 49 responses from middle-school teachers across Sweden. SVT said it should not be considered a representative opinion poll.