Teachers warn students are unprepared for an AI future

Almost half (46 per cent) of teachers across Europe do not think schools are equipping students with the skills needed for an AI future — a concern shared by two in five teachers in the UK (41 per cent). 

According to the research from Epson, nearly six in ten teachers (58 per cent in EU, 54 per cent in the UK) say the education system does not know how to prepare today’s students for a job market that will be very different from that of previous generations, thanks to the advent of AI. 

Teachers across Europe are reporting worrying declines in students’ critical thinking skills, despite believing these abilities are essential for success in an AI-driven job market. More than half (56 per cent) say students’ critical thinking abilities have declined in recent years, while 79 per cent report seeing no improvement at all. UK teachers are slightly less pessimistic, though concerns remain, with 40 per cent reporting a decline and 34 per cent saying there has been no improvement.

These concerns are heightened by strong agreement among teachers and academics that uniquely “human skills” will be vital as AI reshapes the world of work. Across Europe, nearly two thirds of teachers (64 per cent) say critical thinking will be the most important skill for students in an AI-dominated job market, while UK teachers place greater emphasis on problem-solving, cited by 58 per cent as the most essential capability.
 
Yet many believe these skills are already in decline. More than half of teachers across Europe say students’ analytical thinking and problem-solving skills (both 53 per cent) have deteriorated, compared with 32 per cent in the UK for both. Nearly half (49 per cent) also report a decline in emotional intelligence — a concern shared by 40 per cent of UK teachers. These findings suggest that the current education system is struggling to equip students with the skills required for a rapidly changing world.
 
An important way through which to teach these skills is immersive learning. When asked if they had seen the regular use of these technologies in their school, over three quarters (77 per cent) of teachers said not often or never. Yet, the appetite for change is clear as 55 per cent of teachers — rising to 57% in the UK specifically — would like their school to introduce or increase the use of immersive learning.
 
Dr. Sarah Henklemann-Hillebrand at Epson, said, “The workplace is changing incredibly fast. We don’t know what employers will need in years to come as AI takes on more tasks. What we do know is that people will need to be critical thinkers who can navigate uncertain times. And immersive learning is proven to help teach these uniquely human skills.”