In August 2026, Beijing hosted the closing of a competency development program for teachers and school leaders from China and Southeast Asian countries, dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence and STEM education in rural communities — «STEM and AI: Empowering Rural Teachers for Digital Transformation». More than 100 representatives of schools and educational authorities, as well as experts, came together.
The discussion covered the government approach and the practices of individual schools from various regions, including rural and underdeveloped ones. The general opinion was that the digital transformation of secondary education requires a systematic (!) improvement of teacher qualifications and the availability of digital technologies in any region, in order to truly equalize educational opportunities for all students. Investment in infrastructure and technological tools — is important, but it is no less important to make them accessible to everyone: only then will education become truly progressive.
The speech by Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for East Asia, attracted a great deal of attention. He emphasized that artificial intelligence (particularly in education) must be human-centered, inclusive, and ethical.
Despite the active development of technology and AI, all forum participants agreed that the key element of the education system remains the teacher. It is the teacher who determines how digital innovations will be applied, how learning will be organized, and whether the classroom becomes a place for comfortable and productive growth.
