Education Infrastructure
Infrastructure is the precondition for every other domain. The policy treats reliable electricity, classroom-grade connectivity, age-appropriate devices and the Minimum Digital and AI Readiness Standards as the gate that all subsequent investment passes through.
Caribbean context
Caribbean schools span dense urban capitals and remote outer islands. Without explicit readiness standards and a regional levelling mechanism, AI investment will entrench infrastructure inequality.
4 provisions in this domain
- Full policy statement
Every school in CARICOM Member States and Associate Territories must meet the Minimum Digital Readiness Standard before digital tools are deployed at scale. The standard covers reliable electricity, classroom-grade connectivity, age-appropriate devices, basic technical support, and safeguarding policy.
A Caribbean scenario
A Ministry maps its schools against MDRS and finds 40% below baseline. Rather than deploying a new AI tutoring platform nationally, it phases deployment to the 60% that meet MDRS and channels the Levelling Fund to the remaining 40% so they catch up before adoption, not after.
Responsibility matrix
- •RCB maintains MDRS and MARS and publishes annual readiness analyses
- •Coordinates infrastructure procurement aggregation where requested
Preconditions for implementation
Where to start
- 01Publish the Minimum Digital Readiness Standard (MDRS) and the Minimum AI Readiness Standard (MARS)
- 02Map every school against MDRS and identify priority levelling investments
- 03Stand up the Caribbean Education Infrastructure Levelling Fund pipeline
What progress looks like
- Percentage of schools meeting MDRS published annually
- Reduction in MDRS gap between best- and least-resourced schools
- No AI tool deployed in a school below MARS
Likely risks and practical responses
MitigationFund recurrent operating costs (bandwidth, maintenance, replacement) as a line item, not as a one-off capital project.
MitigationCondition device acceptance on a sustainment plan covering electricity, security, repair and end-of-life.
What this domain looks like in the roadmap
- RI-A01NowEstablish Minimum Digital Readiness and Minimum AI Readiness StandardsDevelop and publish the MDRS and MARS, defining the minimum infrastructure, systems, data, governance, safeguarding, support and professional-capacity conditions required for reliable digital implementation and responsible AI-dependent deployment.
- RI-A02NowConduct national and school-level digital and AI readiness assessmentsAssess schools and education systems against MDRS and MARS — connectivity, power, devices, networks, technical support, cybersecurity, core systems, data governance, interoperability, teacher readiness and implementation capacity.
- RI-A03NowEstablish readiness tiers and phased investment plansClassify schools and systems by readiness level and use the results to prioritise infrastructure investment, implementation support and phased deployment of digital and AI-enabled services.
- RI-A04NextImplement infrastructure, resilience, and technical-support upgradesUpgrade connectivity, school networks, devices, power resilience, secure hosting, backup, maintenance, cybersecurity and technical support in line with national readiness plans.
- RI-A05NowEstablish offline and low-bandwidth functionality requirementsRequire approved digital and AI tools to demonstrate appropriate offline, low-bandwidth and continuity functionality under Caribbean operating conditions.
- RI-A06LaterMonitor infrastructure and AI-readiness equity gapsTrack readiness and access by geography, school type, disability, income level and other relevant groups, and direct targeted support where gaps persist.
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