The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is leveraging synthetic intelligence (AI) to boost its academic providers, significantly in literacy and numeracy as a part of a broader digital transformation of the regional entity, in response to CXC Registrar and Chief Government Officer, Dr. Wayne Wesley.
Talking through the keynote session AI in Training: Navigating between the Guarantees and Potential Pitfalls on the Regional Symposium and Coverage Dialogue on Remodeling Training within the Cayman Islands, Dr. Wesley outlined CXC’s strategic repositioning geared toward giving Caribbean college students a aggressive benefit.
“We will discuss AI all we wish, but when college students will not be literate and numerate, they won’t harness the facility of AI. We’ve paid specific consideration to those areas and can quickly unveil our AI-powered literacy and numeracy system to enhance the schooling system and guarantee college students have the foundational abilities wanted to succeed,” he defined.
The Caribbean skilled declining numeracy charges, with solely 36 per cent of candidates attaining a passing grade in Arithmetic within the 2024 CXC exams.
Describing this digital overhaul as a pivotal change for CXC, Dr. Wesley added, “This marks the start of the tip of the Caribbean Examinations Council as we all know it. We’re utilizing our experience with AI to drive the transformation that’s required.”
Different audio system on the Regional Symposium and Coverage Dialogue on Remodeling Training mentioned how AI may reshape schooling by addressing studying gaps, whereas additionally emphasising the significance of equitable entry. They known as for pressing funding in dependable web, reasonably priced gadgets, and trainer coaching to make sure AI is built-in with out exacerbating present inequalities.
Dr. Joseph South, Chief Innovation Officer on the Worldwide Society for Expertise in Training, confused that AI ought to complement, not exchange, conventional academic strategies.
“Skipping the AI revolution shouldn’t be an possibility. A very powerful step proper now’s to supply hands-on coaching for academics and leaders to cut back fears that AI will exchange them,” Dr. South famous. He additional advocated for public-private partnerships to develop an AI-savvy workforce, nationwide AI literacy programmes, and culturally responsive AI fashions that mirror native data and variety.
Andreas Blom, World Financial institution Training Supervisor for Latin America and the Caribbean, underscored the necessity for a complete coverage agenda targeted on studying. He highlighted the significance of constructing connectivity and gadgets accessible to all, piloting EdTech instruments for college students and academics, and constructing capability to combine AI instruments into schooling.
“These instruments must be purchased, applied, and delivered. All of us have a lot to find out about utilizing AI,” Blom said.
Regardless of the passion for AI’s potential, specialists cautioned towards the dangers, together with knowledge privateness and safety considerations, as scholar data might be susceptible to breaches. There’s additionally the chance that AI algorithms may perpetuate biases, resulting in unfair outcomes for marginalized teams and worsening present inequalities.
Held in early October, the three-day Regional Symposium and Coverage Dialogue on Remodeling Training, organised by the Caribbean Growth Financial institution in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat, OECS Fee, The College of the West Indies, and the Ministry of Training within the Cayman Islands, marked a big step towards attaining Sustainable Growth Purpose 4, which goals to supply inclusive, equitable, and high quality schooling for all.
