Education Minister Rachel Taylor says students in the Turks and Caicos Islands are relying heavily on artificial intelligence for schoolwork, as the Ministry of Education moves to establish a comprehensive policy governing how the rapidly developing technology is used throughout the education system.
Taylor said she supports the use of AI in education but stressed that it should assist students in learning rather than become a substitute for developing their own knowledge and skills.
“A lot of students are relying on AI. Heavily,” Taylor said during an interview posted on the Progressive National Party’s Facebook page. “I’m for AI, but I also am for learning on your own and using AI more as a tool than as something in place of learning.”
The Minister said the Government is working with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on the intentional incorporation of AI throughout the education system, with the aim of developing an approach covering primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
“CXC has already met with us, giving us the scope of work in relation to AI, and that is, of course, primary and high schools. And then, of course, they will be working very closely with the Turks and Caicos Community College, because I want a policy from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. So they’ll be working very closely with us in terms of the intentional incorporation of AI into our schools, looking at the various AI tools and how best our teachers are able to incorporate it effectively,” Taylor said.
She stressed that a successful AI policy would depend heavily on ensuring teachers are properly trained and equipped to use the technology effectively in the classroom.
“Nothing is going to happen unless you educate and upskill and retool your teachers to be able to deliver on an AI policy. AI currently exists in our schools, and our teachers have already had basic fundamental training in the utilisation of AI within our schools,” Taylor said.
As students increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for assignments and other schoolwork, Taylor said plagiarism and the ability to detect AI-generated material have also become important issues for the Ministry.
“So AI detection and AI plagiarism, that’s critical. We are working in partnership with CXC as well as WizdomCRM, and there is a potential opportunity for us to look at the introduction of AI into our schools, looking at plagiarism,” Taylor said.
Taylor said CXC has already presented standards for the use of AI across its curriculum, with the TCI working closely with the regional examinations body as it develops its own approach.
The Government’s plans extend beyond simply introducing more AI tools into classrooms. They include establishing appropriate standards for how the technology should be used, preparing teachers to incorporate it effectively and addressing concerns about plagiarism and students becoming overly dependent on artificial intelligence.
Taylor made clear that while AI is expected to become an increasingly important part of education, students must continue to develop their ability to think, learn and produce work independently.
Her position is that artificial intelligence should enhance the learning process rather than replace it.