Telangana primary kids to learn AI

The Education department decided to integrate AI and digital initiatives into the mathematics curriculum from next academic year

Hyderabad: Alongside learning numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, measurements, time and shapes and spatial understanding, primary students in the State will be introduced to the world of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Education department has decided to integrate AI curriculum into the mathematics subject from the forthcoming academic year.

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In the new curriculum being designed and developed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training, Classes I to V students will be learning the nitty-gritty of AI and digital initiatives such as computers as part of the curriculum.

“The Class I and II kids will be taught computers, while the Class IV and V students will be introduced to the basics of AI. The curriculum is yet to be finalised,” said a senior official.

The AI and digital initiatives will be introduced in five primary schools in each of the 20 districts – Karimnagar, Vikarabad, Kamareddy, Jogulamba Gadwal, Adilabad, Rajanna Sircilla, Jangaon, Mancherial, Jagtial, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Siddipet, Nirmal, Sangareddy, Mulugu, Medak, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Wanaparthy, and Bhadradri Kothagudem – on a pilot basis.

During a meeting convened by Education department secretary Dr Yogita Rana, along with School Education director EV Narasimha Reddy, on Saturday the district collectors agreed to implement the initiative in the primary schools.

To effectively implement the initiative, the department will hold training for identified teachers and cluster resource persons from 100 primary schools at MCR HRD Hyderabad on April 3 and 4. These trained teachers will conduct AI learning sessions for students of Classes I to V in their respective schools on April 21 and 22.

Further, it has been decided to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) through integration of AI-enabled tools where the FLN-AI (AXL) programme is being implemented in 513 primary schools on pilot basis in the State. The AXL offers personalised web-based learning experience, allowing students to practise at their own pace to improve foundational literacy and numeracy skills.