A new survey of Canadian middle and high school teachers reveals that most are navigating the rise of artificial intelligence in education without formal training or clear policies. According to the Leger survey, 63.6% of teachers in Grades 6 to 12 report that their school or school board has not provided any training on how to instruct students on using AI reasonably. Furthermore, 64.7% say they have not received training or tools to help identify students using AI.
Lack of Policies and Training
The survey, which covered teachers in every province across both public and independent schools, found that only 42.3% of teachers say their school has a policy on AI use for students. For staff, the numbers are even lower: just 34.8% report a school policy for AI use by teachers. Only 49.3% of teachers say their school or board provided training on how to best use AI for class lessons and materials, while 46.8% received no training at all.
Widespread Student AI Use
These gaps come amid high student adoption of AI. According to 2025 data from the United States, more than eight in 10 high schoolers used AI for homework. A 2025 KPMG survey found that 73% of Canadian post-secondary students aged 18 and up used AI for schoolwork. A 2025 Toronto Metropolitan University survey reported that two-thirds of Canadians have experimented with AI tools. Additionally, a CBC media monitor survey from 2024 showed that 72% of Canadian teenagers were aware of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, and one in four used them at least monthly.
Concerns About Critical Thinking
Paige MacPherson, a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and author of the analysis, warns that AI could diminish students' ability to think, read, write, and analyze material. “Given how easy it is for AI to substitute human thinking, research and writing, these are shocking numbers,” she wrote. “If we encourage students to speed down the information highway, guardrails should constrain and guide their use.”
Call for Policy Action
MacPherson urges policymakers to recognize that teachers require training to navigate the changes AI brings to classrooms. “As this school year winds down, policymakers should understand that, going forward, teachers require training to help navigate this change. Thus far, it seems, Canadian schools and school boards haven’t caught up,” she concluded.
