UNESCO and Mafindo Train 25 Indonesian Junior High Teachers to Counter Disinformation and Teach AI Ethics
25 Jabodetabek junior high teachers joined UNESCO-Mafindo MIL training, Sept 19-20, 2025. Topics: freedom of expression, hate speech, ethical AI, algorithm awareness, data privacy.
25 Indonesian Junior High Teachers Join UNESCO's AI and Media Literacy Training
On September 19-20, 2025, twenty-five junior high school teachers from Jabodetabek joined a media and information literacy (MIL) training led by UNESCO in collaboration with Mafindo. The sessions focused on practical skills teachers can apply right away: freedom of expression, spotting hate speech online, and ethical use of AI in learning.
According to Mafindo Presidium Septiaji Eko Nugroho, the goal is clear: give teachers the digital skills to guide students who use the internet every day and reduce the harm that misinformation can cause. He emphasized that educators need solid MIL competencies in an era marked by AI tools and the rise of post-truth content. UNESCO and Mafindo developed MIL modules teachers can adopt as a classroom guide.
Why this matters for schools
Ana Lomtadze, Head of UNESCO Jakarta's Communication and Information Unit, highlighted the upside and risks of technology in learning. She pointed to research showing strong youth reliance on social platforms and noted a 2024 UNESCO survey indicating that 80% of young people actively use AI for their education. Her message was straightforward: students must learn how algorithms influence what they see online and how it shapes their decisions.
The training also addressed personal data protection and the practical steps schools can take to reduce disinformation. Teachers tested how these ideas fit into their lesson plans, including simulations that mirror real classroom conditions.
Key skills covered
- Freedom of expression: how to uphold rights while maintaining safe, respectful classrooms and school policies.
- Hate speech identification: signals to watch for, context, and response pathways that prioritize safety and learning.
- Ethical AI use: disclosure and citation of AI assistance, bias awareness, and strong data protection habits.
- Curriculum integration: simulations and lesson inserts that tie MIL and AI to existing subjects.
What you can apply next week
- Publish clear AI rules: when AI is permitted, what must be disclosed, and how to cite prompts and outputs.
- Adopt a quick fact-check routine: lateral reading, two independent sources, and a short claim-evidence-explain check.
- Run a 15-minute algorithm awareness activity: compare search results vs. social feeds; ask "why am I seeing this?" and identify signals of personalization.
- Set a hate speech response protocol: definitions, escalation steps, peer-reporting options, and support for targets.
- Protect privacy: avoid entering personal data into AI tools; prefer school-managed accounts; minimize data collection in assignments.
- Assess for process, not just product: require draft trails, version history, prompt logs, and short oral defenses.
Sample activities
- Source triad: for any claim, collect a primary source, a credible secondary analysis, and one contrasting perspective.
- AI reflection sheet: students submit prompts used, why they used them, how they verified outputs, and what they changed.
- Hate speech annotation: label examples for intent, target, and impact; discuss alternative phrasing and moderation choices.
- Digital footprint mapping: students trace how a post travels, who might see it, and what data is exposed.
From a system view, build teacher capacity with short, frequent PD. Share a common MIL rubric across subjects. Align your school's AI and academic integrity policies, and include parents so expectations are consistent at home and in class.
Acting Chairperson of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, Ananto Kusuma Seta, linked media literacy to deeper AI concepts like deep learning. His expectation is practical and human-centered: use digital information for mindful, meaningful, and joyful learning. Students should become confident at filtering information from credible sources and using AI responsibly.
Resource links
Further upskilling for educators
If your school is planning structured AI training for staff, explore curated options by job role to accelerate adoption without guesswork.
This training is a reminder: AI and MIL are no longer extracurricular. With clear rules, simple routines, and aligned assessment, teachers can boost student agency while reducing misinformation risks.
