600 Bireuen Teachers Equipped with Teaching Strategies in the AI Era

Bireuen – The development of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) brings new challenges to the world of education. As many as 600 madrasah teachers from Bireuen Regency and several other regions discussed strategies for educating the next generation amid the rapid flow of this technology.

The discussion took place at the National Seminar titled “Teachers Educating with Love,” held to mark the 18th Anniversary (Harlah) of the Indonesian Madrasah Teachers Association (PGM) at the Old Setdakab Hall in Bireuen on Saturday (8/8/2026).

The seminar was attended by 600 participants in a hybrid format, consisting of 350 teachers present offline and 250 participants joining online.

Bireuen Regent Mukhlis, while opening the seminar, affirmed the Bireuen Regency Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of honorary teachers and madrasah teachers, while also strengthening an education ecosystem based on religious values and Acehnese culture.

“We are aware that without prosperous and appreciated teachers, it is impossible to talk about quality education. Going forward, we will continue to work on enhancing teachers’ capacity through training and seminars,” he said.

According to him, teachers’ welfare and happiness also determine the quality of the teaching and learning process. Teachers who feel valued and are able to teach with full love are considered better able to shape a generation that is both intelligent and of good character.

“A great, intelligent, and moral generation will not emerge if the classroom is not filled with happy teachers who educate with full love,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Bireuen Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kakankemenag), Zulkifli, stated that teachers’ challenges are becoming increasingly complex amid the rapid development of digital technology and AI.

In his view, today’s teachers must do more than simply master the subject matter. They must also be able to guide students to develop critical thinking while upholding moral values amid the flood of digital information.

“Educating with full love does not mean without rules; rather, it means being fully present with one’s heart for the students,” Zulkifli advised.

He assessed that teachers’ ability to adapt to technological developments must go hand in hand with character strengthening. Technology, he said, must be positioned as a supporting tool for education, not as a replacement for the teacher’s role in shaping students’ personalities.

The Chair of PGM Bireuen, Mudasar, S.Ag., M.Pd., hoped that the momentum of the 18th Harlah would strengthen ties of friendship while reinforcing madrasah teachers’ commitment to continue serving sincerely.

He also encouraged madrasah teachers to work together to realize independent and high-achieving madrasahs.

In a similar vein, the Chair of PGM Indonesia for Aceh Province, Abdul Jalil, invited all madrasah teachers from various organizations to strengthen cooperation. According to him, organizational differences should not become barriers to achieving the shared goal of educating the younger generation.

“All teacher organizations share the same goal: to help the nation and state in educating the younger generation,” he said.

The seminar served as a momentum for madrasah teachers to strengthen their capacity in facing the changing times. Amid advances in AI and digital technology, teachers are required to remain key figures in building students’ reasoning, character, and morals.

With the ability to adapt and a humanistic educational approach, teachers are expected to ensure that technology becomes a tool to strengthen learning without eliminating human and religious values.