Education Minister Kenson Casimir has pushed back against plans by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to reform aspects of the School-Based Assessment (SBA) system in response to the growing use of generative artificial intelligence, warning that moving away from research-based assessments could weaken students’ critical-thinking skills.
“I do not agree with it,” Casimir declared during Monday’s Pre-Cabinet Press Briefing.
His comments come as CXC moves toward a phased restructuring of the SBA framework amid concerns about students’ increasing access to generative AI and the challenge of ensuring that submitted work genuinely reflects their own abilities.
Under the changes, subjects will be placed into different categories, with some retaining the traditional SBA while others transition to an alternate Paper 32 assessment. For the 2027 examination period, schools will have the flexibility to determine whether students complete the SBA or sit Paper 32 in applicable subjects.
For non-practical subjects, candidates sitting Paper 32 will receive examination topics one month in advance to prepare. CXC says the reforms are designed to protect the integrity of assessments while also reducing the workload placed on teachers.
But Casimir believes there is significant educational value in requiring students to research, analyse competing ideas and develop their own conclusions.
“There’s a lot to be derived from students doing their own research. There is a lot to be derived from individuals bringing information together and being analytical, looking at different points of views, looking at different theories, different methods and coming to their own conclusions in an intellectually sound manner of expression,” he said.
The minister warned that reducing that process could come at a time when critical thinking is already under pressure. “We’ve moved away, I personally think, from critical thinking a little bit too much in our education system,” Casimir said.
He pointed to social media discourse as an example, arguing that people frequently repeat information and opinions without adequately interrogating what they are consuming.
“Some of the most trivial topics, there is not much analysis other than what somebody just said or repeating something that perhaps an individual who is of a particular mindset or political persuasion would have said and regurgitated,” he argued.
Casimir said education officials and technocrats are aware of the proposed changes and indicated that he intends to seek further discussions on how far the reforms will go. “I will be having the different conversations as to what level of change is being done as it pertains to that particular aspect of our education system, but it [SBAs] is something I personally believe should be part of our education system.”
Despite his concerns, the minister acknowledged the dilemma confronting CXC as artificial intelligence rapidly changes how students access information and complete academic work. He said education is dynamic and recognised that the regional examination body is attempting to adapt while finding ways to protect the credibility of assessments.
Casimir suggested the effectiveness of the reforms may ultimately become clearer with time, as the education system continues adjusting to the growing influence of AI.
