KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 400 teachers, school leaders, and education stakeholders from across Jamaica participated in the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education Workshop, held on October 10 in Montego Bay.

The event, hosted by the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean in partnership with the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC), an agency of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI), is the first in a two-part series aimed at equipping educators with the tools, skills, and ethical frameworks needed to harness AI in the classroom.

“At UNESCO, our mission is clear: technology must serve humanity, not the other way around. Innovation in education must be ethical, inclusive, and equitable,” said Eric Falt, Director of the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean. “Teachers are the torchbearers of this transformation. You have the power to shape how the next generation perceives, interacts with, and benefits from technology.”

Guided by the UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Teachers, participants explored how AI can enhance lesson planning, student assessment, and classroom management. The workshop emphasised the responsible and inclusive use of technology to support personalised and creative learning. Educators engaged in practical exercises and shared strategies to apply AI within their schools and communities.

CEO of the Jamaica Teaching Council Dr Winsome Gordon expressed that the future of education in Jamaica depends on how well teachers are equipped with confidence, skills and creativity to embrace AI responsibly.

“This workshop is not about technology replacing teachers; it is about empowering teachers to inspire, guide and transform the learning experience of every child in their care,” she said.

The initiative forms part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Joint Programme on Digital Transformation for Education in Jamaica, funded by the European Union and Spain. Jamaica is also among the first Caribbean countries to adopt UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology, signaling its commitment to ethical and sustainable AI integration in education.

The second workshop is scheduled for October 17 in Kingston, offering more educators the opportunity to build AI competencies and explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning.