Malaysian students may be getting quicker at typing answers into calculators and AI tools, but a new study suggests many are losing grip on basic maths skills.
A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) study has found that a large number of young students are struggling with fundamental arithmetic and reasoning, raising concerns about overreliance on calculators and ChatGPT.
The findings have sparked fresh questions about how technology is shaping the way students learn, and whether convenience is quietly replacing core understanding.
Over 80% struggle with basic maths
According to by Malay Mail, the study conducted between March 2024 and February 2026, more than 80 percent of students aged nine to 12 were unable to solve simple mathematical questions that required basic calculation and logical thinking.
Researchers noted that many students now turn to smartphones and AI tools to solve problems instead of working through them step by step.
The study found a growing trend of students relying on calculators and AI platforms such as ChatGPT to complete their maths work.
While these tools improve speed and convenience, experts say they may also reduce opportunities for students to build strong foundational skills in numeracy and reasoning.
The concern is not the use of technology itself, but how early and heavily it is being depended on as a replacement for learning.
Risk of weaker critical thinking skills
A UKM academic warned that Malaysia could end up with a generation that is comfortable using AI tools but weaker in critical thinking and analytical reasoning.
She explained that basic numeracy is important not just for exams, but for everyday decision making and problem solving.
Without it, students may struggle to judge whether answers produced by calculators or AI are actually correct or sensible.
Calls for stronger foundations at home and school
Researchers stressed that improving maths skills cannot fall on schools alone.
Parents were encouraged to bring numeracy into daily life, such as budgeting, cooking measurements, reading clocks, and estimating time and distance.
Schools, meanwhile, were urged to focus less on rote memorisation and more on real-world application of mathematics.
Tech is not the enemy
Experts were clear that the issue is not technology itself.
Instead, they say the goal is balance, where AI and calculators are used as support tools rather than replacements for thinking.
As one researcher put it, maths should not just be treated as a subject, but as a language of everyday reasoning.
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