Teachers Say AI Is Surpassing School Oversight, Survey Finds

Teachers throughout Europe are raising concerns that AI tools are infiltrating classrooms faster than schools can manage them, a view reflected in a recent Epson survey of pupils and educators.

The poll shows that 76% of students expect to be able to use AI in their coursework, and an even higher proportion of teachers—81%—think many learners assume the technology can perform simple tasks like spell‑checking and solving math problems for them.

These results come as the EU’s AI Act is being implemented, requiring schools to deliver formal AI‑literacy instruction to both staff and students. The law seeks to give users a solid grasp of how generative models operate, their limits, and the ethical issues tied to their use.

Teachers fear that unchecked AI dependence could erode basic skills, compromise academic integrity, and widen the divide between pupils who have easy access to advanced tools and those who do not. The belief that AI can substitute routine learning tasks may also dampen motivation to master core competencies, echoing long‑standing debates over technology’s place in education.

In reaction, a number of districts are drafting curricula that embed AI‑awareness modules, and teachers are pursuing professional‑development courses to learn how to oversee AI‑assisted assignments properly. Policymakers and education officials are slated to release additional guidance in the coming months, aiming to balance innovation with the safeguarding of essential learning outcomes.