Leonel Fernández urges strengthening reading and critical thinking in schools due to AI

Leonel Fernández, president of the Dominican political party Fuerza del Pueblo, called for prioritizing reading comprehension and critical thinking in the Dominican education system to counter the advance of artificial intelligence. Speaking at a conference in Juan Dolio, he warned that premature AI use could weaken students' reasoning abilities Source: eldiado, diariolibree.

The proposal

Fernández argued that the education system must ensure students understand what they read, stating that without comprehension they become "functional illiterates" Source: diariolibree. He proposed creating school libraries nationwide, strengthening dictionary use, and involving teachers, families, and society in fostering reading habits and critical thinking Source: eldiado. He also emphasized the need for digital literacy, second-language learning, teamwork, and conflict resolution as essential 21st-century skills Source: diariolibree.

AI in education

While acknowledging tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity as valuable resources, Fernández cautioned that they should not replace reasoning. He noted that some countries restrict AI use for school purposes before age 16 Source: eldiado.

Commitments

During the event at the City of Hope educational center, Fernández pledged 200 full scholarships for vulnerable youth and expressed admiration for the project. He also revealed that former California superintendent of education Alan Bersin would visit the center soon Source: diariolibree.