International Day of Education 2025 and Artificial Intelligence

Ms. Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, dedicated the observance of International Day of Education 2025, marked on 24 January, to artificial intelligence and the challenges and opportunities presented by this emerging technological tool. She called on UNESCO Member States to invest in the responsible use of this technology by teachers and students in education. This year’s International Day of Education, under the theme “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in an Automated World,” addresses questions concerning how to redefine and strengthen the centrality of human beings in an era of rapid technological advancement.

Artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities in the field of education, provided that the use of this technology in schools is accompanied by clear ethical principles. As a tool serving teachers and students, AI must complement rather than replace the human and social dimensions of learning in order to reach its full potential.

To support the responsible use of this emerging technology in education, UNESCO has developed AI competency frameworks for teachers and students. The framework for teachers sets out the knowledge, skills and values they need to incorporate AI into their teaching practices while ensuring that education remains human-centred and inclusive. Similarly, the AI competency framework for students has been designed to prepare them to become responsible and creative citizens in the age of artificial intelligence.

These efforts are aligned with the objectives of the Global Digital Compact, which seeks to ensure human control over the development and governance of artificial intelligence technologies. By focusing on education and ethical guidelines, UNESCO aims to enhance the benefits of AI while preserving human agency in relation to this technology. International Day of Education 2025 provides a platform for discussing the opportunities and challenges ahead in AI education and promotes global dialogue to explore the best ways to integrate these technologies to improve learning while preserving the human elements of education.