Hyderabad: Digital learning will now be part of the curriculum in govt schools, with students set to learn the basics of coding, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) from this academic year.

To begin with, the programme will cover primary school students. Special teaching material has already been prepared and teachers have undergone a capacity-building programme to adapt to the new subjects.

“Primary school students will be introduced to coding and robotics. AI will be used to help them understand tough concepts by simplifying them. Teaching will be activity-based to make learning a fun experience,” said Thaduri Sampath Kumar, a govt teacher. He added that introducing such topics at a young age will spark curiosity in children and make them better learners.

“Bringing in emerging technologies is in line with global and national education standards. We must take advantage of technology to make education engaging and ensure our children are capable of competing at an international level,” he added.

Teachers said a pilot programme using AI-based tools had already been conducted in several schools. The state education department is expected to roll it out across all govt schools by Oct.

For high school students, the state has tied up with private organisations to deliver maths and science lessons digitally. Apart from video lectures, students have access to reading material, interactive activities and tests designed to reinforce classroom learning.

“The responsibility of creating login credentials is given to maths and science teachers. Once registered, students can access lessons at their own pace. The outcomes are assessed through simple tests, including multiple-choice questions,” explained M Ravinder, a maths teacher from a govt school.

Some teachers believe this initiative will channel students’ fascination with mobiles and digital devices into learning, as it provides them with structured educational platforms. Others, however, expressed concern that exposing young children to AI too early might have unintended effects. They fear students could pick up inaccurate information or become over-reliant on AI for even basic problem-solving, thereby hampering critical thinking.