As schools in India are currently undergoing summer vacations, its educators are preparing for a challenge: introducing a new curriculum Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking, for classes 3-8 , as part of India’s efforts for structured AI education in primary schooling.
The target is humongous: implementing AI curriculum in over 30,000 Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools across India from 2026-27 academic session. Under the new curriculum, students will be trained to develop logical thinking, problem solving skills, and pattern recognition, and to understand the role of AI in daily life.
The major challenge that remains ahead of this frontier is the need for AI-trained teachers entrusted with introducing the curriculum in schools of India.
Speaking exclusively to AI FrontPage, Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, said, “It is important for teachers to learn artificial intelligence so that they can teach students. Artificial intelligence is a major intervention which has come into the society.”
To achieve that goal, India is using a multipronged approach, backed by state institutions, tech giants and non government organizations. While CBSE has its own in-house training program for school teachers for AI literacy, NCERT also provides video lectures on AI training to educators.
Tech giants like Intel, IBM, Google and OpenAI have also launched initiatives to support AI literacy in the country.
“I believe AI should be a very prominent figure in the school curriculum. It will increase productivity in schools,” added Kumar.
In that regard, Google along with UNICEF has partnered with several Indian state governments to help teachers and students strengthen their AI literacy.
The partnership was announced at the Education World Forum in London and as per the company, it is aligned with the goals of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
As part of the initiative, the company launched Google AI Educator Series (GES), a mobile-first training programme customized to the unique needs of teachers in schools and higher education institutions. The programme will be kicked-off in collaboration with the governments of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Assam, the Union Territory of Ladakh, and Punjab School Education Board.
Elaborating more on its initiative the company said, “We will responsibly integrate AI-powered tools to help accelerate progress and reimagine learning, pairing Google’s technology with UNICEF’s deep expertise in building education systems to ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed.”
