Government-backed AI program promises to cut teacher admin by 25 per cent
Queensland schools will soon adopt a new government-built AI tool after early classroom trials suggested it could ease pressure on teachers.
Queensland schools will soon adopt a new government-built AI tool after early classroom trials suggested it could ease pressure on teachers.
Mt Gravatt State High in Brisbane is among 15 schools to test Corella, the program the Crisafulli government plans to roll out to every state high school by 2026.
The award-winning tool has been designed to trim teacher administration, lift digital literacy, and improve classroom safety. First announced in May, it’s said to reduce admin loads by about 25 per cent.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the focus was on giving teachers back their time.
“For teachers, it’s going to mean things like helping them with emails, lesson preparation,” he said.
The move follows last month’s 24-hour teacher strikes, which left more than half a million Queensland students out of class. The Queensland Teachers’ Union called for higher pay, lighter workloads, and safer working conditions.
Year 10 students were among the first to try the system, with many saying they enjoyed the integration of the cutting-edge tech to their day-to-day learning tasks.
“We are able to maximise our efforts in the classroom and get more work done,” student Noosheen Bozoigmehr told 7NEWS.
“It’s not giving you the answers to the question, it’s just giving you that information that you can use to come up with your own answers.”
Bozoigmehr said the tool means fewer students turning to teachers for basic requests.
“We can simply go to Corella for that, and (the teachers) can give us their own personal insights from their teaching experiences.”
Classmate Tilly Conway said the tool keeps students doing the work themselves.
“It doesn’t actually write essays for you, which is good, because we’re still using our brain,” she said.
“If you’re studying for a maths exam, it’s really good to give you examples of questions of what you’ll need to know.”
Teachers say Corella is opening the door to a frank discussion about AI in the classroom.
“We saw it as a great opportunity to actually target the teaching of AI, rather than just ignoring it,” teacher Hayley Francis said.
“It’s linked in to all the educational resources, so we know that it’s going to be relevant to us in Queensland.”
But some parents remain sceptical.
“How about putting textbooks back in classrooms and removing tech,” one parent posted in a Facebook group.
Queensland now joins a host of states around the world welcoming arrival of artificial intelligence in schools. But across the globe, education systems are also wrestling with how to use the technology without undermining learning.
In the UK, experts have warned that A-levels and GCSEs need a complete overhaul to prevent AI-assisted cheating, with proposals for more oral exams and faster digital grading.
China has gone a step further, cutting off AI problem-solvers nationwide during exam periods to stop students gaming the system.
Elsewhere, the debate has been more divided.
In the United States, some school districts have banned generative AI outright, while others are experimenting with it in lesson planning. A pilot “AI school” backed by billionaire Bill Ackman has even suggested students could replace the traditional school day with just two hours of digital tutoring.
International bodies like UNESCO have stressed caution, warning that AI risks widening inequality and entrenching bias.
Educators in Europe and Australia have echoed those concerns, calling for professional development and ethical frameworks to ensure AI becomes a teaching aid rather than a shortcut.
Originally published as Government-backed AI program promises to cut teacher admin by 25 per cent
