AI in education needs clear policy, not fear-based restrictions
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing education at a very fast pace. It can now write essays, summarize readings, create images, and help with design work in just seconds. Tasks that once required time, training, and effort can now be done with a simple prompt.
Because of this, many schools and universities are now trying to control or limit the use of AI, especially in writing and research. This response is understandable, but it is often driven more by fear than by clear policy. Writing is one of the main ways students show their thinking and understanding. This is why AI use in writing raises concern among educators.
A 2023 report by the Digital Education Council found that about 86 percent of students worldwide use AI tools in their studies, mostly for tasks like summarizing texts, drafting ideas, and organizing information. At the same time, Unesco has warned that generative AI creates serious challenges for grading, academic integrity, and fairness in education. Instead of bans, it recommends clear rules and structured use of AI in schools.
The Philippines is part of this global trend. The Commission on Higher Education has encouraged schools to develop guidelines for AI use. Some universities, including the University of the Philippines, have started creating their own policies that focus on ethical use, transparency, and responsibility. However, many schools still do not have clear or consistent rules. This leaves both students and teachers uncertain about what is allowed.
Because of this lack of clear policy, many institutions respond with caution or restriction. Some treat AI mainly as a threat to academic honesty. Others try to ban it completely or limit its use without a clear explanation. But banning AI ignores an important reality: students are already using it in their academic work, whether schools accept it or not.
Students use AI to help them draft ideas, summarize long readings, translate materials, and organize their thoughts. The problem is not that they are using AI. The problem is that schools have not clearly defined what is acceptable use and what is not. Without clear rules, students are left to guess, and teachers are forced to enforce policies that are unclear or inconsistent.
As an art and design educator and scholar, I have seen how tools can improve learning when they are used properly. Every major tool in education—from design software to digital platforms—was once seen as a threat before becoming a normal part of practice. AI should be treated in the same way.
The real issue is not student behavior. It is the slow response of institutions to create clear and fair policies. Instead of reacting with fear, schools need to build rules that guide responsible use. Regulation, not restriction, is the more practical and responsible path forward in the age of AI.
ERNEST JOSEPH M. GARCIA,
ernestgarciart@gmail.com
