JITRA: Education leaders and administrators must master new technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), to ensure they remain relevant and produce more competitive students, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic).
The Home Minister stated that principals, headteachers, and teachers must at least ensure their students are familiar with AI terminology.
"If we fall behind and can't master this new branch of knowledge, AI, we are already far behind. I think this issue is very relevant because education leaders and administrators need to shape our students, at the very least, to know the term AI, as that is today's reality," he said.
He spoke at the Madani Executive Talk titled "The Role of Madani Leaders in Upholding Humanity and Enhancing Society" at the Aminuddin Baki Institute, Northern Branch of the Education Ministry, on Friday (Oct 11) night.
He noted that in economic terms, plantations are no longer commodities, as data has become the new source of income.
"The world has changed. Trade is no longer about commodities like in the past, such as tin, rubber, palm oil, or oil and gas. Data is the new 'oil'," he said.
Meanwhile, IAB Director Ab Aziz Mamat said this edition of the Madani Executive Talk is very relevant to the role and responsibilities of education leaders in the organisations they lead.
"Leaders in an educational organisation, especially, play a crucial role in ensuring the dignity and humanity aspects are given priority to form a generation with high morals, compassion, confidence, and creativity," he said.
He added that the Madani Executive Talk is expected to be the starting point for the continuous effort of education leaders to infuse Madani values in every aspect of their leadership and management to ensure the country's well-being, sustainability, and security.
Participant Iskandar Mohd Nasir, an Assistant Principal for Administration from a school in Kelantan, said the programme has a very high impact on the leadership, namely principals and headteachers.
"What we gain is how education must face changes in information technology, especially AI. Education leaders are given the significant responsibility to prepare students to face the challenges of AI.
"It is not easy, but it must be faced and pursued because it is the goal and core of the Madani government," he said.
Ku Nor Suriati Ku Ishak, another Assistant Principal for Administration, mentioned that the programme significantly opened the minds of education leaders in efforts to produce students who will become future leaders with the input to realise the aspirations of Malaysia Madani.
This edition of the Madani Executive Talk was attended by education leaders and administrators from the Northern Zone, including Kedah, Perlis, Penang, Perak, and Kelantan. – Bernama
