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Britanya Moore / Contributor

Final-year students at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) are facing growing anxiety following a cyber-attack in February 2025 that disrupted key digital systems, leaving many uncertain about the safety of their grades as graduation approaches.

In an official advisory, the university confirmed that its “computer systems have been attacked by unscrupulous sources,” noting that the breach “prevented access to the Aeorion LMS and SMS as well as the main website.”

The breach affected the university’s Learning Management System and student portals, making critical platforms inaccessible and forcing staff to rely on alternative arrangements to maintain teaching, learning and administrative functions. While the university confirmed that efforts are ongoing to restore systems and secure data, students say the disruption has created lasting concerns.

One final-year student, who asked not to be named, said the uncertainty has been overwhelming. “It stressful because we depend on the system for everything, and if it is not working properly, it affecting we future,” the student said.

In the immediate aftermath of the cyber-attack, lecturers were forced to resort to alternative methods, including email submissions and virtual platforms, to continue teaching and grading. Although the Aeorion system has since been restored, both students and faculty say confidence in the platform remains low due to ongoing technical issues. Several report that the system continues to malfunction intermittently, further fueling concerns about the reliability of academic records.

Final-year Communications major described the situation as “chaos.”
“Every time mi used to try log in, mi get error,” she said. “Mi nervous, especially since mi final exams soon start. If mi grades mash up, how mi a go graduate?”

Fourth-year communications student who wish not to be named shared similar concerns, noting that the system not being reliable remains a major issue.
“Mi need fi see mi grades,” she said.

Cybersecurity experts say attacks on educational institutions are increasingly common, often driven by financial motives rather than attempts to alter academic records. Craig Powe, chief executive officer of ADTelligent, said students should not be overly concerned about grade integrity but noted that weak systems can be exploited if not properly secured.

“Students shouldn’t have to pay more money or take extra classes, especially if they passed with a good grade and the records is not there to show that,” Powe added.

A 2025 cybersecurity report by the Inter-American Development Bank indicates that cyberattacks across Latin America and the Caribbean are on the rise, with Jamaica recording more than 34 million attempted attacks in the first half of the year.

Experts say the region’s increasing dependence on digital systems, coupled with limited cybersecurity infrastructure, has left institutions  including universities vulnerable to threats such as ransomware, phishing and data breaches.

Against this background, the situation at Northern Caribbean University reflects a broader regional pattern, with educational institutions emerging as frequent targets of cybercriminals, raising concerns about system reliability, student confidence and academic continuity.

NCU has since assured students that there is no evidence that academic records have been lost or altered and that contingency plans are in place.

However, some students say the problem goes beyond the cyber-attack and is now affecting academic progression.

Final-year student Kimberly Brown said she is unable to move forward in her programme because a prerequisite grade from 2023 is missing from the system.
“Mi pass the course, but the grade not showing,” Brown said. “The lecturer seh him submit it, but Records saying dem nuh get it. Now mi cyaan move on, and that holding me back from graduating this August.”

She added that repeated attempts to resolve the issue have been unsuccessful.
“Dem just seh dem a work on it, but time a run out,” she said.

Other students argue that the situation highlights deeper administrative and technological challenges.
“This bigger than just one hack,” another student said. “After years of work, we shouldn’t be worrying if we can graduate because of missing records.”

Students are now calling for urgent action and clearer communication from the university as graduation draws closer.

While NCU maintains that systems are being restored, many students say the uncertainty surrounding grades and progression continues to overshadow what should be the final stage of their academic journey.