Jamaica tests AI tools to aid teachers

At the JTA Education Conference, Minister Dana Morris Dixon stressed AI’s role in supporting teachers, not replacing them, in creating more effective learning environments for students.
Jamaica’s Ministry of Education is testing AI tools in schools to assist teachers with administrative tasks, allowing them to focus more on student interaction and personalised learning.

The Jamaican Ministry of Education is testing AI tools in schools to assist teachers with marking and administrative duties.

Portfolio Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon announced this during the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Education Conference 2025, emphasising that AI would allow teachers to focus more on interacting with students, while AI handles routine tasks like grading.

The Ministry is also preparing to launch the Jamaica Learning Assistant, an AI-powered tool that personalises learning to fit individual students’ preferences, such as stories, humour, or quizzes.

Morris Dixon highlighted that AI is not meant to replace teachers, but to support them in delivering more effective lessons. The technology will allow students to review lessons, explore topics in more depth, and reinforce their understanding outside the classroom.

Looking ahead, the Government plans to open Jamaica’s first state-of-the-art AI lab later this year. The facility will offer a space where both students and teachers can develop technological solutions tailored for schools.

Additionally, the Ministry is distributing over 15,000 laptops, 600 smart boards, and 25,000 vouchers for teachers to subsidise the purchase of personal laptops to further integrate technology into the education system.

JTA President Mark Smith acknowledged the transformative potential of AI, calling it one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in history.

He urged educators to embrace this new paradigm and collaborate with the Ministry and the private sector to advance digital learning initiatives across the island.

The conference, held under the theme ‘Innovations in Education Technology: The Imperative of Change,’ reflects the ongoing push towards modernising education in Jamaica.

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