Artificial intelligence in schools to power smart economy

Artificial intelligence in schools to power smart economy

https://www.chinadailyasia.com/article/634205

Publish Date: 2026-05-31 12:38:00

Source Domain: www.chinadailyasia.com

• Advancement of AI: China’s 15th Five-Year Plan focuses on AI integration across various sectors—industry, culture, public services, and governance—and emphasizes coordinated development in education, technology, and talent fostering. Premier Li Qiang’s report underscores the goal of nurturing a smart economy, providing a clear direction for Hong Kong’s alignment in this transformation.

• AI+X Policy Framework: To capitalize on AI advancements, Hong Kong should develop an “AI+X” policy framework encompassing industry, education, research, public services, and governance, treating AI as a transformative component embedded within daily operations and institutional structures.

• Education Transformation: AI should revolutionize teaching, learning, and assessment methods. Education must move beyond standardized, examination-oriented systems that fail to accommodate individual student differences. AI can personalize education, facilitating interactive and responsive learning while evolving teachers’ roles from knowledge providers to facilitators that nurture critical thinking skills.

• Integrated AI Education: Current tool-based AI applications in Hong Kong are insufficient. There is a need for deeply integrated AI solutions that fundamentally reshape curriculum redesign, competency development for educators, and ethical AI governance to ensure responsible deployment.

• Role of Assessment and Governance: Assessment should shift from traditional exams to continuous evaluation through AI-enabled systems, providing real-time feedback and learning progression. Governance frameworks are required to oversee AI applications to ensure their ethical, transparent, and inclusive use.

• Policy Development and Future Orientation: The “Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools” offers a pivotal chance to envision systemic transformational education aligned with smart economy demands. This involves investments in teacher training, updating curricula to prioritize AI literacy and crucial skills, and establishing ethical AI governance frameworks.

• Cultural and Competitive Evolution: By embedding AI in education, Hong Kong aims not just to prepare students for future jobs but to foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning, thus ensuring competitiveness in an AI-driven global economy and supporting broader national development goals.

• Strategic Positioning: Incorporing AI-driven approaches and talent development will help Hong Kong sustain its role as an international innovation hub while aligning with China’s large-scale strategies and securing a central place in the emerging smart economy.