AI in the classrooms
Education minister unveils AI pilot programme for teachers, STEM schools and national AI lab initiatives
Published:Saturday | March 29, 2025 | 12:10 AMEdmond Campbell/Staff Reporter
In a move to modernise education, Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon announced the launch of a groundbreaking pilot programme that utilises artificial intelligence (AI) to assist teachers with grading.
“We are actually piloting this with some of our schools to see how it works and the interesting thing is that we at the ministry can actually see the results real time, so as it marks we can see how the schools are doing,” Morris Dixon revealed during her contribution to the 2025-2026 Budget in the Senate yesterday.
Alongside this initiative, the minister unveiled plans for a new prompt engineering course aimed at students and public sector workers. Prompt engineering, a skill designed to optimise AI models through tailored prompts, will enable the workforce to harness AI tools and work more efficiently.
“This course will train students and public servants in AI tools to give our workforce the opportunity to equip itself to leverage AI and work smarter,” she added.
STATE-OF-THE-ART AI LAB
Further strengthening Jamaica’s commitment to innovation, the Government is set to launch the first state-of-the-art AI lab in Jamaica later this year. The project is a collaboration with the Amber Group, which will provide a space for developers, researchers, and students to create AI solutions led by Jamaicans.
In addition to AI-driven initiatives, Morris Dixon announced the establishment of six new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) schools across the country. These schools, designed not for an elite few but for all students, will provide access to world-class technology and resources.
“STEM education is now a core part of our national curriculum, and we want to ensure that every student has access to the best technology,” she emphasised.
The Government is also investing in 14 traditional technical schools, but the new STEM schools will be equipped with cutting-edge labs and technology.
Addressing concerns over literacy and numeracy, Morris Dixon outlined plans to tackle these challenges head-on. “We cannot allow our children to leave school without being literate and numerate,” she stated.
The Government is focusing on intensive interventions, including extended teaching hours and hands-on support, particularly for underperforming schools. A total of 56 high schools and 189 primary schools will be targeted for intervention in the coming months.