CXC embracing AI as future of Caribbean education

By Kimone Witter    

 

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says it will be fully embracing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of Caribbean education.

 

Addressing the 4th CXC Ministerial Summit in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, Chairman of the exam body and Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles, said teachers should feel excited and empowered by this tool.

 

Sir Hilary says it provides greater access to education for children in financially challenged households, which transcends the class divide, while teachers can craft a learning relationship with each student. 

 

"So, you know, the days of 30 kids in the classroom and one teacher is now over. The one size fits all approach is over. Teachers can now individualise their relationship with each child. Teachers can now identify specifically the learning challenges of each child and help to diagnose it. It becomes a one-on-one relationship now. And it's a relationship of mutual enrichment. The possibilities are endless," he touted. 

 

But, Sir Hilary acknowledged that the new learning structures will need a policy framework to be developed by the CXC board to protect its objectives. 

 

"The UWI, where I work, we are now working through a framework, a policy perspective, and we are engaging the entire institution to give us ideas on how to proceed. But proceed, we must; proceed with care, absolutely, recognising the enormous benefits that are going to be derived, but the need to extract integrity, truth, accuracy, and quality from the engagement," he noted. 

 

In the meantime, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council, Dr. Wayne Wesley, said this is the beginning of the end of CXC as we know it, as it transforms for greater regional impact.

 

Dr. Wesley said the digital transformation is set out in the body's five-year strategic plan.

 

He added that there are several challenges within the education system that AI can help to address, one of which is creating a more mentally stimulating environment for students.

 

"We are deeply concerned about the mental challenges being experienced and the mental health of our students and candidates for our examinations, and we are committed to creating an environment that relieves that stress on our students and even parents, because sometimes it's the parents who are writing these examinations," he stressed.