AI Not The Threat Outdated Student Exams May Be Reason For Cheating, Say UAE Experts

2026-02-02 02:29:33

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Much of the anxiety around AI in schools centres on cheating, but experts say that the deeper issue lies more in how learning is currently assessed

PUBLISHED: Mon 2 Feb 2026, 4:39 PM UPDATED: Mon 2 Feb 2026, 7:12 PM

By:
Nandini Sircar

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now an unavoidable part of education, and efforts to block its use - especially during student assessments - are unrealistic. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, education experts say it represents a transformative shift that, if used thoughtfully, can enhance how students learn.

Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of a press conference ahead of the 5th Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education, Wajdi Manai, senior advisor for Innovation and Education Development at the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), said the conversation around AI in schools needs a fundamental rethink. Positioned“at the intersection of education and technology,” Manai argued that trying to keep AI out of classroom is unrealistic.

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“AI is here to stay,” Manai said.“Whoever thinks we're going to protect assessment with anti-AI tools is, with all due respect, delusional.” He sees AI not as a threat, but as“a big shift in education” - one that can enhance learning if used thoughtfully.

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At the same time, Manai acknowledged that education systems are still adjusting.“It's such a recent advent,” he said, that there is“no structured framework” yet for how and where to use AI, or how to ensure“we don't rob kids of an opportunity to learn.” Even so, he is clear: AI will reshape classrooms and education systems“differently than what we've been doing in the last 250 years.”

Rethinking cheating - and what grades really measure

Much of the anxiety around AI in schools centres on cheating. But Manai argues that the deeper issue lies less with students but more in how learning is currently assessed.

“To understand cheating, look at the incentive,” he said.“Right now, the incentive is to get a good grade.” A quiz, he added,“only tells me that you can take a quiz. It used to be a proxy for learning - I don't think that's the case anymore.”

Instead, he believes assessments should shift towards curiosity, practical application, and real-world problem-solving.“If we really want authentic assessment,” he said,“we should assess for curiosity and practical use of knowledge, not just sitting through a test.”

Educators have consistently emphasised that education systems should move beyond assessing rote memorisation and instead focus on fostering and evaluating higher-order thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning.

'Go back to basics'

Manai noted that AI will inevitably force a change in how schools evaluate students. Mass assessments and automated grading, he noted, were built for scale - not necessarily for deep learning.

“What we're going to have to do is go back to basics,” he said, focusing on whether students can“authentically show how they're learning or what they've learned.” That, he suggested, could take the form of conversations, oral presentations, project-based learning, or skill mastery assessments.

For UAE schools navigating rapid technological change, his message is clear: AI isn't the enemy - outdated assessment models are.

“Using AI will force us to change the way we assess,” he said.“And that's not a bad thing.”

Policy and practice in education

Providing context on the upcoming summit on February 14–15 2026 at Sharjah Education Academy in University City, Khawla Al Hosani, Vice Chancellor of the university, described the event as“a unifying platform for advancing dialogue around education as a living system shaped by both policy and practice, with people at its core.”

Hosani added,“Education driven by AI and emerging technologies offers opportunities to rethink teaching, assessment, and personalised learning, while reaffirming that technology should remain a supportive tool that enhances the role of the teacher and preserves the human value-based dimensions of the educational process.”

She emphasised that through this summit,“we reaffirm our commitment to providing a platform that transforms educational dialogue into practice, visions into applicable policies and recommendations, into measurable actions, supporting the development of a more flexible, equitable, and sustainable educational system capable of meeting present needs and anticipating future challenges.”

From early childhood to educational leadership

The Pre-Conference Day will feature 11 advanced masterclasses, bringing together education leaders, experts, and decision-makers from within the UAE and internationally. These masterclasses are designed to equip teachers, school leaders, and policymakers with practical tools and applied frameworks that can be directly implemented in educational settings.

Across its keynote sessions and thematic dialogues, the summit will open in-depth conversations on the future of education, addressing the development of early childhood education systems as the foundation of lifelong learning pathways, and advancing school quality improvement through comprehensive, learner-centered models. Sessions will highlight the critical role of teachers and school leaders as agents of change, while examining how educational leadership shapes motivating, resilient, and sustainable learning cultures.

The summit will also explore the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on teaching, assessment, and personalised learning, alongside discussions on inclusion, empowerment, and educational equity to ensure fair access to quality learning opportunities for all learners. Emphasis will be placed on bridging educational research, classroom practice, and policymaking to develop adaptable and scalable education models capable of responding to present challenges and anticipating future needs.