Blackman urges stronger protection of school data

Schools must strengthen protection of students’ personal information as they expand their use of digital systems and artificial intelligence, Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman urged on Wednesday.

At a joint conference with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST), Blackman said modernising the nation’s education system requires schools to move beyond simply complying with administrative requirements and take active responsibility for managing and protecting information.

Schools collect data every day, from register entries and admissions details to attendance records and academic performance.

But as schools increasingly digitise their operations and adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, they must protect sensitive information, he told education leaders, principals and information technology coordinators at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

“We’re transforming the education system into a modern, innovative, fresh system that will benefit not just generations today, but generations tomorrow,”Blackman said, suggesting that schools must keep pace with digital change while complying with the law, including the Data Protection Act and the Child Protection Act.

Blackman highlighted longstanding shortcomings in how data has been managed across the Caribbean, noting that information has rarely been used to its full potential to guide change. He urged administrators to make data analysis part of their regular management meetings to identify attendance trends, monitor learning needs and plan targeted classroom support.

According to him, expanding digital systems must be accompanied by rigorous security measures. He cautioned against treating data security as a routine administrative requirement, urging IT specialists and school leadership teams to continually assess their safeguards.

“A lock that is relevant in 1945 for that door is totally different in terms of its efficacy in 2026,” Blackman remarked, saying schools must regularly test their digital storage and administrative systems for weaknesses.

The Minister also reminded educators that their responsibility for protecting data continues after a student graduates or transfers.

Safeguarding personal details — such as home addresses, family circumstances and developmental needs — remains a legal and ethical duty for all school personnel, he said, urging schools using AI for promotional media and administrative tasks to remain alert to how information enters digital systems.

Turning to academic achievement, Blackman reported progress in improving reading skills in the primary school principals following the introduction of new technology-driven literacy teaching aids.

Preliminary findings from a recent sample of pupils showed that about 65 per cent are now achieving improved reading levels, with a significant percentage performing above age-appropriate benchmarks, he told the forum.

He praised primary school principals and teachers for their dedication over the past year in helping close persistent literacy and numeracy gaps.

But, the education minister urged the educators to build on their progress rather than regard the work as complete.

“When we do well as a nation, we pat ourselves on the back and we brag along, driving looking through the rearview mirror,” Blackman said, adding that continuous assessment and teaching strategies informed by data remain essential to ensure that every student reaches their full potential.

He called for closer collaboration between the education ministry and MIST, and pledged to provide school leaders with simplified, practical guidelines to help them meet their legal and operational responsibilities.

(RR)