Deputy Premier Prue Car has asked NESA to urgently review the impact of artificial intelligence on student learning and consider interim restrictions from Term 4
The New South Wales government is considering a major change to school assessment rules as concerns grow over the impact of artificial intelligence on student learning.
Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car has asked the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to urgently examine the use of AI and consider a moratorium on unsupervised take-home assessments.
The move is aimed at protecting both the integrity of school-based assessments and the learning process itself.
HSC assessment under scrutiny
The issue is particularly significant for students completing the Higher School Certificate.
Around half of an HSC student’s final result is based on school-based assessments, some of which are completed outside the classroom and without direct supervision.
That has raised concerns that students may increasingly rely on generative AI tools to produce work that does not accurately reflect their own knowledge or ability.
Car said AI has enormous potential to support education, but warned it should not replace the thinking, creativity and effort that schooling is designed to develop.
Concern over the learning process
The government’s focus goes beyond cheating.
The broader concern is that over-reliance on AI may undermine students’ development of judgment, resilience, critical thinking and independent problem-solving.
If students use AI to bypass the process of researching, writing or solving problems themselves, the final assessment may look complete while the underlying learning has not taken place.
That, Car warned, could damage both students’ education and confidence in the HSC system.
Changes could begin in Term 4
NESA has been asked to provide urgent advice on possible interim measures.
Subject to that advice, any changes could be introduced from the beginning of Term 4.
A temporary restriction on unsupervised take-home assessments would likely mean more tasks being completed under classroom or supervised conditions.
Schools face a growing AI challenge
The debate highlights a broader challenge facing education systems around the world.
AI is becoming an increasingly common part of study, work and everyday life, making a complete ban unrealistic.
The real challenge is deciding when AI supports learning and when it replaces it.
For NSW schools, that debate may soon lead to a significant rethink of how students are assessed.
Meta description: NSW is considering a moratorium on unsupervised take-home assessments as NESA reviews the impact of AI on student learning and HSC integrity.
