Nikkei’s March 3 issue runs an interesting article about China’s national strategy advancing AI in primary and secondary education.

Although China is suffering from a declining population and a stagnant economy, it aims to establish itself as a superpower, placing greater emphasis on quality than volume and integrating made-in-China AI into its educational system. Schools are “experimental ground” for major changes in the education model.

One private school in Hanghou attracts attention from many educators. Students use a “smart pen” to solve a math equation. The smart pen is equipped with a tiny camera and a pressure sensor to capture handwriting pressure and brushstroke data. AI analyzes data on how the student solved the problem and the mistakes they made. AI provides the teacher with data, who will advise the student on how to better solve the problem. Thanks to AI, students are more engaged in learning and interested in lessons.

In the cafeteria, plates are equipped with IC chips to control a balance between nutrition and volume. In physical education, students wear wristbands with sensors to measure pulse and heart rate. AI analyzes cloud data to improve physical abilities.

In January 2025, the Ministry of Education issued a directive to strengthen the education system. It outlines the level of primary and secondary schools at the world’s top.

Moreover, there is another school in Hangzhou that offers advanced education, where the headquarters of Alibaba Group is located. The school was established in 2017 with a huge endowment of JPY30 billion from Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group. They expect students identify the essence of the problem and find the solution. AI-driven learning makes lessons more engaging and interesting.

In Japan, when students face a problem; they instinctively ask AI for the answer. That could weaken students’ problem-solving abilities. I wondered whether there were any concerns or risks of AI in schools due to excessive reliance on it.

Source: Nikkei Shinbun, March 3 issue