President of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, Dr. Mark Smith, has emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and education.
Dr. Smith says AI is the most significant technological breakthrough in human history and urged educators to lead the digital transformation.
He has called for greater collaboration among the JTA, the Ministry of Education and the private sector to advance digital learning initiatives in schools across the country.
"So it asks us now to challenge our planning models. How do we plan for this change? And why is it so important to teachers? Because you are the ones that will be asked to prepare the next generation of workers, the labour force of the country. You see, there's a huge disconnect where we often believe that it's somebody else," he noted.
"We were speaking the other day to Keith Duncan, and the idea that we need to tackle the issues relating to productivity in the country. I said that's a human capital development issue. That's what education is about, human capital development. And so, any lack of understanding why we need to spend more in education, why this has to be a strategic investment...in education, is part of what this conference is about," said Dr. Smith.
He was speaking at the JTA Education Conference in Trelawny on Tuesday.
The government, through the Ministry of Education Skills, Youth and Information, is testing artificial intelligence tools in schools to assist teachers with marking and administrative tasks. Portfolio Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon said there are also plans to launch the Jamaica Learning Assistant, an AI-powered tool designed to personalise learning according to students' individual needs.
She noted that the technology is not a replacement for teachers, but rather a support tool that enhances their ability to deliver lessons more effectively.
The Jamaica Teachers' Association Education Conference is a three-day event being held under the theme Innovations in Education Technology, the Imperative of Change.