By Sakini Mohd Said
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia risks raising a generation proficient in artificial intelligence (AI) technology but lacking strong critical thinking and analytical skills if numeracy and reasoning abilities are not strengthened from an early age, according to an expert.
Senior lecturer at the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Associate Professor Dr Kalaivani Chellappan said the concern stems from the growing use of AI and digital technologies in daily life, particularly in learning, research and completing tasks.
The data analytics and digital health expert said that although technology can improve efficiency and facilitate the learning process, over-reliance on it may undermine the mastery of basic skills essential for developing rational thinking and sound judgment.
The concern was reinforced by a two-year study she conducted involving 12 schools in suburban areas of the Sepang district.
The study, conducted from March 2024 to February 2026, found that more than 80 per cent of students aged between nine and 12 were unable to solve mathematical questions requiring basic calculation and reasoning skills.
Kalaivani said the study further revealed that the majority of students relied on smartphone calculators and AI applications such as ChatGPT to solve mathematics problems.
“For them, there is no need to learn calculation methods, as tools are already available to provide answers. This becomes a concern when technology is used as a substitute for learning rather than a complement,” she told Bernama.
She said follow-up findings from the study showed a trend of lower mathematics performance among pupils who were overly reliant on digital aids when they entered secondary school.
According to Kalaivani, this highlights that technology cannot fully replace the basic learning process, as strong numeracy and thinking skills must first be developed before AI can be effectively used as a support tool.
“The issue here is not that these children are not smart. Modern lifestyles are increasingly limiting opportunities for them to work with numbers in their daily lives. This is not just about academic achievement, but also reflects a decline in the ability to think, analyse and make rational judgments,” she said.
“Calculators and ChatGPT can provide answers. However, it is thinking ability that enables a person to assess whether an answer is reasonable and whether the information is reliable,” she said.
On measures to address the issue, Kalaivani said efforts to strengthen numeracy skills cannot rest solely on schools, but require the participation of parents and the community.
She said parents can encourage children to take part in daily tasks such as preparing budgets, shopping, measuring cooking ingredients, estimating travel time and reading analogue clocks, to nurture reasoning and problem-solving skills.
At the same time, she suggested that schools place greater emphasis on the application of mathematics in real-world situations rather than focusing on examination-oriented approaches.
“The solution is not to reject technology. Such a response would be unrealistic and counterproductive. Instead, Malaysia must rebuild a culture of thinking.
“Communities should create environments where children engage with numbers naturally through sports, games, planning, gardening, house cleaning, cooking, woodcraft projects and everyday problem-solving.
“Most importantly, we must stop viewing mathematics as merely a school subject. Mathematics is the language of thinking. Every receipt, timetable, recipe, football score, fuel bill, bank statement and construction measurement is a mathematics lesson,” she said.–BERNAMA
