Many teachers use AI tools, but misunderstand them
Over 70% of teachers across India are already using AI tools in their classrooms, CENTA reports. But the way AI is used is mostly for planning, not instruction.
The Centre for Teacher Accreditation (CENTA), India’s leading teacher certification body, has released new findings from two nationwide surveys on how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in classrooms and what teachers, parents, and students think about it.
The surveys, one focused on how AI tools are actually used by teachers, the other on broader perceptions, drew responses from more than 5,000 teachers and a wide set of stakeholders across India. The data shows both high interest in AI and a deep need for a better understanding of it.
Over 70% of teachers across India are already using AI tools in their classrooms, CENTA reports. Among teachers with more than three years of experience, this number rises to 75%. The use of AI is not limited to any one school type or fee segment; it’s happening in government, private, low-cost, and premium schools alike. But the way AI is used is mostly for planning, not instruction. Nearly 60% of teachers said they use AI tools to help with lesson planning.
Around 26% said they also use it to generate ideas for classroom activities. These numbers suggest that AI is currently seen as more of a behind-the-scenes helper than something that interacts directly with students. Even though AI tools are being widely used, CENTA found a noticeable gap in how well teachers understand them.
When asked to rate their own knowledge of AI on a scale of 1 to 10, 67% of teachers rated themselves 6 or higher. The average rating was 7. But when CENTA tested this understanding with a basic question about AI, only 57% answered it correctly. Even fewer teachers have earned CENTA’s certification on ‘AI in Teaching’, indicating that the use of AI is moving faster than the training behind it.
“AI is rapidly becoming part of the modern classroom, but there remains a clear gap between adoption and genuine comfort among teachers,” said Ramya Venkataraman, Founder and CEO of CENTA.
CENTA’s second survey asked not just teachers, but also parents, students, and school leaders what they think about AI. It found that 84% of respondents had concerns. Of these, 34% were worried that AI might replace human jobs in education. About 23% questioned the accuracy of AI-generated content.
Other concerns included how AI might affect creativity, how transparent AI tools are, and the potential for misuse. These concerns were not limited to one group or region. CENTA gathered responses from a wide range of schools, from government to private, low-fee to high-fee, and across all parts of the country.
As AI becomes a common tool for teachers, the need for clear training and responsible use is also rising. The survey findings come at a time when the pace of AI adoption in other industries has already caused job cuts and restructuring. In schools, the pressure is different, but growing.
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