“We can’t be static in our thinking” – Pres Ali

…as Guyana’s 1st digital school to utilise AI, address students’ weaknesses

The Government is investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to rapidly develop its education, healthcare, governance, and financial systems to efficiently meet the needs of the expanding economy. The first digital school will soon be commissioned to offer remote and specialised educational courses to students at primary and secondary levels.

During his address at the opening of the Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown on Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali noted that the digital school would do more than simply offer remote education.
“The school will have an AI module where every student in every subject area will be evaluated, and AI would generate specific lessons to target specific weaknesses of every student, and send that lesson to the student to work on their weaknesses,” he detailed.
This method, he explained, seeks to increase efficiency in upgrading students’ learning abilities in a timely manner.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand has since posted to her social media page photos of a meeting with providers and content reviewers of the Guyana Digital School, which she said would soon be commissioned by the President.
In addition to education, the Head of State disclosed, work has been ongoing with Harvard University to utilise AI to read malaria slides.
“It is already operational,” he added. “We can’t be static in our thinking; we have to be able to open ourselves to the competition and challenges and opportunities that the world gives to us. Therefore, AI and digitisation and technology must and will be the strategic bedrock on which our future is built.”
The President has pointed out that AI is being used to enhance transparency, improve financing and investment, improve agriculture and food security, crime analysis, traffic management, remove bureaucracy and human biases, and create greater efficiency in Government services and systems. Some of these applications have commenced with the introduction of paperless transactions at the ports of entry and other public offices.
Further, he noted that with the extensive borders Guyana has, AI is also important for national security and defence.
The Guyana Digital School is expected to become operational next month, and will be available regionally.