by Curlan Campbell
- 70% of Caribbean nations lack official AI policies or structures
- CXC developed guidelines for use of AI and GenAI in assessments
- AI will be implemented for CXC school-based assessment submissions in 2026
A December 2024 CXC study revealed that about 70% of Caribbean nations lack official AI policies or structures despite the global surge in AI technologies.
This has prompted the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to develop standards and guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in assessments, which will be implemented for school-based assessment (SBA) submissions beginning in 2026.
The document titled “Responsible Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework for the Regional Secondary Education System,” aligns with CXC’s Regional GenAI Policy Framework. The standards outlined in this document specify detailed requirements that stakeholders must follow when utilising AI and GenAI (generative artificial intelligence) in CXC assessments.
The guidelines outline how each standard should be implemented by relevant stakeholders when utilising AI to facilitate assessments or validate the work produced for decision-making purposes regarding candidates’ competencies. Additionally, these guidelines provide best practice descriptors to help stakeholders implement the standard requirements, taking into account the diverse contexts across the region.
According to CXC’s Director of Technological Innovation Rodney Payne, the standards will focus on ethical use, academic integrity, data privacy, security, and maintaining measurement principles in assessment development. During a virtual press conference on 15 April, the CXC unveiled its regional framework for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, as the region moves toward broader acceptance of the new technology.
“For us to benefit as a region, we need harmonious development, utilising the technologies across the board. It’s not going to help us if one state moves ahead quickly and the others are struggling to follow, because CXC’s exams are not territorial,” Payne explained.
CXC guidelines on AI consider the Ethical Use of AI, Academic Integrity, Data Privacy and Security, Designing Assessments, Evaluating Assessment Processes and Products, and Maintaining Measurement Principles in Assessment Development, among others.
The framework provides direction through 10 policy components designed to guarantee responsible AI adoption while maintaining academic standards. These components consist of upholding academic integrity, fostering ethical inclusion, embedding AI within the curriculum, offering teacher training, safeguarding data privacy, and establishing essential infrastructure. Payne highlighted that the framework is not meant to be a set of strict rules, but acts as flexible guidance that can adapt as technology progresses.
Anguilla was the first territory to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU), confirming CXC’s support in its policy development. The AI policy framework and guidelines documents are available on the CXC website.
