The Ministry of Education introduces guidelines on AI and mental health

The Ministry of Education is expanding its support for artificial intelligence in education to include the topic of mental health. The new methodological materials for students aged 11 to 15 respond to the growing presence of AI in young people’s everyday lives and strengthen their mental resilience, critical thinking and quality of relationships.

Students use AI not only for learning, preparing projects or searching for information. Increasingly, they also turn to it with questions related to their emotions, relationships and personal decisions.

AI responds quickly, uses language that may seem supportive and empathetic, and is constantly available. This combination can create a sense of understanding and closeness, even though it does not represent a real relationship or a source of responsibility.

In cooperation with the organisation Emocionálny kompas, the Ministry builds on the introduction of AI literacy in primary education and presents methodologies that connect the topic of artificial intelligence with mental health. In doing so, the Ministry responds to the current needs of schools and provides teachers with practical tools to address sensitive topics with students in a safe and age-appropriate way.

Beyond Technical Skills

Education in AI cannot focus solely on technical skills and the efficient use of tools. Schools must also systematically develop young people’s ability to understand themselves, regulate their emotions, think in broader contexts and make decisions with an awareness of consequences.

If these areas are not cultivated, trust, attention and decision-making may gradually shift from people to technology. The new methodological materials help prevent this shift and strengthen students’ resilience in an environment where AI plays an increasingly significant role.

So That Students Understand Their Emotions

The methodologies take into account the developmental needs of students aged 11 to 15. Adolescence is a period marked by an intense search for identity, heightened sensitivity to acceptance and rejection, a need for recognition, and a gradually developing capacity for abstract thinking. At this age, school support and well-guided discussions about technology play a crucial role.

The activities encourage students to understand their emotions and seek strategies to manage them before accepting solutions offered by AI. They learn to reflect on what matters to them and what gives their lives meaning, so they can resist the shortcuts technology may offer.

They strengthen their decision-making and communication skills in support of their own authenticity, practise critical thinking when assessing the value of technology and human creativity, and recognise the irreplaceable role of relationships with others as a source of support in the real world.

AI in education is not only about technological progress, but also about a responsible approach to the personal development of young people. The goal is to prepare a generation that can use technology wisely and confidently, with consideration for their mental health and the quality of interpersonal relationships.

Additional Methodologies to Follow

By September this year, the Ministry of Education will prepare similar methodological materials for younger primary school students and for secondary schools. This will gradually create a comprehensive system supporting both AI literacy and mental resilience across all levels of education.

By integrating AI literacy into the national curriculum, Slovakia has joined the countries that actively implement the recommendations of UNESCO, the OECD and the European Union in the field of AI education.

By the end of 2026, the Ministry of Education will also incorporate the topic of artificial intelligence into the national curricula for secondary schools.