by Dr. Lyssette Hawthorne-Wilson
Introduction
Plainly put: most teachers are not afraid of technology.
They are afraid of losing what makes teaching human, fair, and meaningful.
ChatGPT has arrived quickly, and with it a wave of uncertainty. My theory is
that teachers’ fears cluster around five things: identity, integrity, bias,
workload, and rules. Understanding these fears helps us design ethical,
supportive training and policies that keep teachers in the driver’s seat.
1) Identity: Will AI replace what I do best?
Teachers build relationships, model thinking, and give
feedback that students trust. When a bot can produce fluent text in seconds,
teachers worry that parents and leaders might undervalue those human strengths.
Large surveys show many educators remain unsure whether AI is good for K-12
overall, and a notable share believe it does more harm than good (Pew Research
Center, 2024).
2) Integrity: Will cheating overwhelm learning?
Fear of plagiarism and shortcut culture is real. Reports
from schools show rising reliance on AI for essays and homework, which pushes
teachers to redesign assessment and move more work into supervised settings
(Imagine Learning, 2024). Many educators now talk openly about AI as both a
teaching aid and a cheating risk (OECD, 2023).
3) Bias and safety: Can I trust the outputs?
Teachers know that AI can be wrong, biased, or opaque.
UNESCO’s global guidance tells systems to keep learning human-centred, protect
agency, and build capacity before scaling classroom use (UNESCO, 2023). That
message aligns with teacher instincts to verify and adapt, not copy and paste.
4) Workload and skills: Will this help or just add more?
Some studies show AI can reduce planning time. Others
show little change. Teachers worry that learning new tools, checking outputs,
and writing new policies will simply shift the workload. These mixed results
fuel hesitation, especially without targeted professional development (OECD,
2024).
5) Rules and risk: What are the boundaries?
Unclear rules magnify fear. OECD reviews note that many
countries rely on non-binding guidance, leaving schools and teachers to
navigate grey areas on their own (OECD, 2023). Educators want simple guardrails
that align with wider data and child-protection laws.
Jamaica’s Direction on AI in Education
Jamaica is moving from conversation to action. The
Government piloted AI in several schools to assist teachers with marking and
administrative tasks so teachers can spend more time with students (Jamaica
Information Service, 2025a). In parallel, the National Artificial Intelligence
Task Force released policy recommendations in 2025 (National AI Task Force of
Jamaica, 2025). Ethics and privacy are also central. Jamaica’s Data Protection
Act took full effect on December 1, 2023, requiring schools to comply with
eight data protection standards (Jamaica Parliament, 2020; Jamaica Information
Service, 2023). CARICOM and UNESCO also encourage an ethical, human-centred
approach in the region, which supports Jamaica’s stance that AI should
complement teachers, not displace them (CARICOM, 2025; UNESCO, 2024).
Asia: Who has embraced AI in education and what is the benefit?
Several Asian systems are moving with clear training
plans and curricula:
- Singapore provides practical guidance for safe, effective AI use (Ministry of
Education Singapore, n.d.).
- South Korea is rolling out AI textbooks and training communities (World Bank,
2024).
- China has a national smart education push with tiered AI literacy (China
Ministry of Education, 2025; China State Council, 2025; CGTN, 2025).
- India is scaling AI curricula and teacher training (IIT Madras, 2025).
Benefits observed or projected include personalised practice, faster feedback,
better use of teacher time, and targeted support for struggling learners. At a
system level, AI skills improve employability and can lift productivity and
competitiveness (OECD, 2024).
My working theory: what reduces fear
1) Affirm teacher identity (Pew Research Center, 2024).
2) Make integrity visible (Imagine Learning, 2024).
3) Teach critical AI literacy (UNESCO, 2023).
4) Protect data (Jamaica Parliament, 2020).
5) Invest in training with time allowances (World Bank, 2024).
6) Publish simple, living guidelines (National AI Task Force of Jamaica, 2025).
A short, ethical use checklist for classrooms in Jamaica
- Clarify when AI is allowed, and require disclosure.
- Require proper citation when AI contributes.
- Prohibit input of sensitive personal data (Jamaica Parliament, 2020).
- Use human review for high-stakes marking.
- Provide non-AI pathways for learners with limited access.
- Document tool, purpose, and data handling in a brief DPIA (Office of the
Information Commissioner, n.d.).
Conclusion
Teachers’ fears are not a barrier. They are a compass. If
leaders honour teacher identity, protect integrity, build capacity, and anchor
practice in Jamaica’s data-protection law and national AI direction, then
ChatGPT becomes a tool that strengthens teaching and learning. The goal is not
automation. The goal is better learning with a trusted teacher at the centre.
References
· CARICOM.
(2025, January 23). International Day of Education 2025: AI and education.
https://caricom.org
· China
Ministry of Education. (2025, May 16). White paper on smart education released
at WDEC. https://en.moe.gov.cn
· China
State Council. (2025, Apr 18). New guideline stresses AI-based education.
https://english.www.gov.cn
· CGTN.
(2025, May 13). China advances AI curriculum to cover full basic education.
https://news.cgtn.com
· IIT
Madras. (2025, Sept.). AI for Educators course announcement. Times of India.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· Imagine
Learning. (2024). The 2024 Educator AI Report. https://www.imaginelearning.com
· Jamaica
Information Service. (2025a, Apr 22). AI pilot in several schools to mark
papers. https://jis.gov.jm
· Jamaica
Information Service. (2025b, Mar 31). Harnessing AI to drive business,
education and economic growth. https://jis.gov.jm
· Jamaica
Information Service. (2023, Dec 1). Data Protection Act takes effect.
https://jis.gov.jm
· Jamaica
Parliament. (2020). Data Protection Act, 2020. https://japarliament.gov.jm
· Jamaica
Teachers’ Association. (2025, Apr 30). Educators urged to lead digital
transformation through AI. https://www.jta.org.jm
· Ministry
of Education, Singapore. (n.d.). Guidance on generative AI in SLS.
https://www.learning.moe.edu.sg/ai-in-sls/responsible-ai
· National
AI Task Force of Jamaica. (2025). National Artificial Intelligence Policy
Recommendations. Office of the Prime Minister. https://opm.gov.jm
· OECD.
(2023). Emerging governance of generative AI in education. https://www.oecd.org
· OECD.
(2024). Education Policy Outlook 2024: Reshaping teaching.
https://doi.org/10.1787/dd5140e4-en
· Office
of the Information Commissioner. (n.d.). The Data Protection Standards.
https://oic.gov.jm
· Pew
Research Center. (2024, May 15). A quarter of U.S. teachers say AI tools do
more harm than good in K-12 education. https://www.pewresearch.org
· Public
Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica. (2025, Apr.). News bite: Testing AI in
schools [Video]. https://www.youtube.com
· UNESCO.
(2023, updated 2025). Guidance for generative AI in education and research.
https://www.unesco.org
· UNESCO.
(2024). Caribbean AI Policy Roadmap. https://www.unesco.org
· World
Bank. (2024, Oct 30). Teachers are leading an AI revolution in Korean
classrooms. https://blogs.worldbank.org
