UWI Five Islands Campus (UWI FIC) Principal Professor Justin Robinson has called on Caribbean educators to confront deeply rooted elitism within their systems and redefine success to ensure that every student achieves foundational literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills.

Speaking at the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) Education Conference in Antigua, Robinson acknowledged the region’s prioritization of education in national budgets. However, he argued that the legacy of elitism continues to undermine equitable access and outcomes.

“So we have vast legislation requiring everyone to succeed in school, and for everyone to attend school.Philosophically though, do we believe that everyone can get to a certain level of competence? Are we elitist?” he asked.

Professor Robinson also highlighted the challenges of adapting education systems designed during the Industrial Revolution to meet the needs of the digital age which he explained was “designed for efficiency rather than inspiration”.

He advocated for a shift from focusing solely on access to prioritising measurable outcomes and integrating critical thinking and problem-solving into curricula.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, educators are grappling with adapting assessment methods to prepare students for the demands of a rapidly changing workplace. The professor argues that the traditional exam-based approach, which emphasizes memorization and recall, is outdated in an era where information is readily accessible. The real differentiator today, he says, is not knowledge itself, but the ability to use information effectively.

“I think the big challenge for our education system is how do we really move to different forms of assessment. Because the assessment is still very much driven by that sit down exam, what you can recall.”

Access and Technology in the Digital Age

Sharon Kelsick, General Secretary of the Antigua & Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT), echoed Robinson’s call, stressing the need for equitable access to not only materials but also technology that enhances learning. “It is important for us to take that into consideration even when we’re looking at access and the quality of the access so that they will be successful,” she said.

“We need to look at our assessment practices. We need to look at our professional development practices because teaching is changing. Just as education is dynamic our teaching practices have to change.”

Ahead of the two-day conference, Kelsick had also called on teachers to embrace continuous training to meet the needs of Generation Z students, who thrive in technology-driven environments. “Our educators are not digital natives. So, it is a challenge coming on board and working with our students,” she shared. “They require a different type of pedagogical approach when it comes to learning … And we have to train our teachers to be able to do this, to meet the needs of our students.”

Kelsick also acknowledged the anxiety some teachers feel about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for the profession. “As much as we love technology, you can never replace the quality or the importance of having that personal connection with a teacher,” she stated. She called on educators to embrace AI as a supplement to teaching rather than a threat, encouraging them to transition from being the “sage on the stage” to the “guide on the side.”

Challenges for the Teaching Profession

Stephen McPhee, President of the Bahamas Educators & Managerial Union, highlighted systemic issues affecting teachers, including poor negotiation practices and a lack of adherence to agreements.

He criticised current negotiation practices in some Caribbean nations as insufficient, leaving teachers underpaid, overburdened, and stuck with outdated benefits.

“We sit, we negotiate, we bargain for years, we come to agreements, but one of the challenges we’re finding across the regions is we can’t get ministers of education and the employers to uphold their obligation and abide by these agreements. So principally what we have is documents that look very good, a lot of words, that mean nothing,” he explained.

During the conference themed “Beyond the Benchmark: Leveraging Assessment and Professional Development for Motivation and Achievement,” educators will continue to discuss broader challenges such as teacher burnout, inadequate working conditions, and climate change’s impact on the education sector.

As the conference continues, participants aim to develop actionable strategies to address these challenges, ensuring that both teachers and students are equipped to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.