FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2026
JTA RESPONSE TO CXC’S REFORM OF THE SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association notes the announcement by the Caribbean Examinations Council regarding significant reforms to the School-Based Assessment framework for CSEC and CAPE examinations. While the Association recognises CXC’s responsibility to protect the integrity, credibility and international acceptance of its qualifications, the concerns raised extend far beyond the administration of regional examinations. They have wider implications for Jamaica’s education system and demand an urgent national conversation about teaching, learning, assessment and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
CXC’s decision represents a clear acknowledgement that the existing assessment framework has not kept pace with the rapid advancement and widespread availability of generative artificial intelligence. Put plainly, CXC appears to have been caught largely unprepared and has, to some extent, become a casualty of the very technological transformation it is now seeking to manage. The rapid phasing out of traditional SBAs in several non-practical subjects suggests that the organisation did not act with sufficient foresight, despite the growing evidence over several years that AI would fundamentally alter questions of authorship, originality and academic integrity.
While decisive action may now be necessary, CXC must also acknowledge that replacing the traditional SBA with Paper 032 may address only one dimension of the problem. The misuse of AI is not confined to students completing SBAs. It affects homework, internal examinations, research assignments, lesson planning, tertiary education and the broader production and evaluation of knowledge. The challenge, therefore, cannot be solved merely by moving more assessments into controlled examination environments. It requires a comprehensive regional strategy for AI literacy, ethical conduct and authentic assessment.
This development also raises serious ethical considerations for Jamaica. As a country, we must determine how AI will be used responsibly and equitably within our schools. Students must be taught not simply how to use AI, but how to interrogate its output, identify inaccuracies and biases, acknowledge its use appropriately and avoid presenting machine-generated material as their own. Teachers, school leaders and parents must also be equipped to guide students through this new technological reality.
The reforms further raise concerns about equity. Not all students or schools have equal access to digital devices, reliable internet connectivity, AI platforms or teachers who have received adequate training in emerging technologies. Without deliberate intervention, AI could widen existing inequalities between schools and communities. Any national response must therefore include investment in infrastructure, teacher professional development, clear ethical guidelines and safeguards for students who are already disadvantaged.
The JTA calls on the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information to urgently convene a session with teachers, school leaders, students, parents, assessment specialists, universities and technology experts to develop a national policy on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education. Schools cannot be left to navigate these complex ethical, instructional and assessment issues individually.
CXC’s announcement must be treated as a warning to the entire education system. Artificial intelligence cannot simply be prohibited, ignored or feared. However, neither can it be allowed to erode intellectual honesty, independent thought and confidence in our qualifications. The task before us is to integrate AI responsibly while ensuring that every certificate awarded continues to represent the genuine knowledge, skills and capabilities of the student.
Contact:
Leaon Nash,JP
Administrative Officer,
Communication & PR
JTA
97B Church Street, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
Tel. : (876) 922-1385-7, Cell – 876 – 874 - 8162
Email: [email protected] or