Department launches pilot to build AI literacy among secondary students
Belagavi: The Department of School Education and Literacy has announced a pilot programme to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) education in 142 government schools across the Belagavi and Chikodi educational districts from the current academic year, department officials said on Friday. The move, they added, aims to equip students with emerging-technology skills and to broaden digital literacy at the school level.
Officials described the rollout as a pilot project whose performance will determine expansion to additional government schools in subsequent years. The programme will be implemented initially for students of classes 9 to 12, with a stated focus on developing logical thinking, creativity, technical competence and analytical skills rather than rote learning.
Class-9 students can opt for AI as an alternative to a third language, officials said.
Department sources said practical exposure is a key feature: the plan includes setting up AI laboratory infrastructure and ensuring necessary resources such as computers, software, internet connectivity and practical-learning facilities. Officials noted that ensuring reliable technology access, particularly in rural schools, will be crucial to the initiative’s success.
- Target group: Students of classes 9 to 12 in selected government schools.
- Number of schools selected: 142 across Belagavi and Chikodi educational districts.
- Curriculum emphasis: Fundamentals of AI, problem-solving and application to real-world problems.
The department said early exposure to AI is expected to foster innovation and strengthen problem-solving abilities, and to encourage interest in fields such as computer science, data science, robotics and software technology. Teachers will be provided guidelines and a curriculum framework is being developed, officials added.
Of the 142 schools chosen for the pilot, 74 are in the Chikodi educational district and 68 are in the Belagavi educational district. The Chikodi cohort includes 40 PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) schools and 34 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS). In Belagavi district, five PM SHRI schools and 63 KPS institutions have been selected, according to the department.
| Educational district | Total schools | PM SHRI | KPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chikodi | 74 | 40 | 34 |
| Belagavi | 68 | 5 | 63 |
| Total | 142 | 45 | 97 |
Officials emphasised that the programme will prioritise practical competence: hands-on sessions, use of software tools and projects aimed at applying AI concepts to everyday problems are part of the planned pedagogy. They also said teacher training will form a core component of implementation to ensure pedagogical readiness across selected schools.
Introducing AI as an elective at the Class-9 level — where students traditionally choose between languages and other subjects — marks a departure from the conventional curriculum. The department hopes this option will give students greater flexibility to pursue interests aligned with careers in technology.
While the department has outlined infrastructure targets, it has acknowledged potential implementation challenges. Ensuring consistent internet connectivity, deploying adequate computing devices and coordinating teacher training across urban and rural schools were all flagged as areas requiring careful attention. Officials said the department is working to address these gaps ahead of the academic year.
Education officials said the pilot’s outcomes will be closely monitored and evaluated. If successful, the model may be scaled up to additional government schools across the state to widen access to AI education. For many in Belagavi district, the initiative represents a first formal exposure to contemporary digital-skills training within the government-school system.
The department’s announcement comes amid growing emphasis at the state and national levels on integrating technology into school curricula to prepare students for an increasingly digital economy. Locally, stakeholders will be watching implementation closely to see if the pilot can bridge digital divides and translate classroom learning into future academic and employment opportunities.
