Integrating AI into School Curricula: A New Era in Education

AI Integration in Education

AI in Schools: The Ministry of Education is set to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the educational framework for schools nationwide. Starting from the academic year 2026-27, AI will be part of the curriculum for students beginning in Grade 3. To facilitate this, the Ministry is working on a detailed framework for AI integration.

According to Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, it is essential to equip both educators and students with the necessary skills to adapt to this technology in the near future.

"We must act swiftly to ensure that both teachers and students are comfortable with AI within the next two to three years. The challenge lies in training over 10 million teachers across the nation to effectively teach AI. The CBSE is currently developing an AI framework applicable to all grades," he stated.

Current AI Education Status: AI is already being taught in more than 18,000 schools.

Kumar mentioned that a pilot initiative is in progress, focusing on training teachers to create lesson plans utilizing AI tools. The goal is to prepare both students and educators for the digital economy. Presently, AI is offered as a skill subject in over 18,000 CBSE schools, starting from grade 6 as a 15-hour module, and as an optional subject for grades 9 to 12.

Job Market Impact:
This announcement follows a report from NITI Aayog, which indicated that around 2 million traditional jobs may be at risk in the future. However, it also highlighted the potential creation of 8 million new jobs if the country establishes a robust AI ecosystem. The report suggested connecting the proposed "India AI Talent Mission" with the ongoing "India AI Mission." Additionally, it emphasized the need for collaborations among educational institutions, industries, and the government to ensure the availability of sufficient computing infrastructure and data, fostering a new generation of innovators and researchers.