AI Courses to be Integrated in School Curriculum from Class 6; Check Details Here

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The government has taken a proactive step towards integrating AI courses into school education as per the report "National Programme on Artificial Intelligence (NPAI) Skilling Framework." Get more details below.

AI Courses to be Integrated in School Curriculum from Class 6

New Delhi: With the rapid emergence of publicly available generative AI (GenAI) tools, the centre has put forth a comprehensive plan to integrate artificial intelligence courses as early as Class 6 in school education.

Outlined in a report named "National Programme on Artificial Intelligence (NPAI) Skilling Framework," a committee has detailed a wide array of AI and Data Science courses, along with various strategies to utilize AI for upskilling. This report, released in June 2023, is a component of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s “National Program on Artificial Intelligence”.

The committee recommended that the introduction to AI commence at early educational stages, focusing on its utilization and current applications. In line with the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), the report proposes a fundamental curriculum for various school levels.

Why are AI Courses Important?

Highlighting the incorporation of ethics into AI education, the panel highlighted the necessity to allocate a minimum of 10% of each course to ethical considerations.

Also Read About: Online AI Courses

The report insists on integrating modules addressing Ethical AI within every course, regardless of size, to guarantee responsible development and deployment of AI systems, encompassing aspects such as transparency, fairness, and privacy.

The report presents an inventory of current courses and underscores the importance of adaptability in course creation due to the rapid evolution and swift changes in AI and ML tools.

In addition, it emphasizes the necessity for smaller modules like micro-credentials and NOSs, advocating for an agile approach in developing new courses.

AI Course Modules for Classes 6 to 10

Further, the panel has outlined specific hours and ethical modules for each educational level.

Level	Indicative Qualification/Micro-credential	Hours (60)
Class 6-8	a) What is AI b) Using AI tools (including Generative AI tools) to create pictures, music, documents, websites and for education. c) Need of Ethics in AI	7.5
Classes 9 to 10	a) Fundamental concepts of AI and using AI tools b) Ethics in AI c) Using ML in art or music or deploying reinforcement learning in games d) Introduction to AI programming with mini project	22.5
Classes 11 to 12	a) Maths and Statistics for AI b) AI libraries, tools, and frameworks c) Applications of AI, such as NLP, Computer Vision d) Usage of AI tools for basic AI applications e) Need for handling Data Security and Privacy f) Incorporating Ethics in AI software	30

Level

Indicative Qualification/Micro-credential

Hours (60)

Class 6-8

a) What is AI

b) Using AI tools (including Generative AI tools) to create pictures, music, documents, websites and for education.

c) Need of Ethics in AI

7.5

Classes 9 to 10

a) Fundamental concepts of AI and using AI tools

b) Ethics in AI

c) Using ML in art or music or deploying reinforcement learning in games

d) Introduction to AI programming with mini project

22.5

Classes 11 to 12

a) Maths and Statistics for AI

b) AI libraries, tools, and frameworks

c) Applications of AI, such as NLP, Computer Vision

d) Usage of AI tools for basic AI applications

e) Need for handling Data Security and Privacy

f) Incorporating Ethics in AI software

How to Incorporate AI into Education?

To facilitate AI education, the panel has urged regulatory bodies such as the National Council for Vocational Education and Training, the All India Council for Technical Education, and the University Grants Commission to establish guidelines and benchmarks. The University Grants Commission made the report available on its website on October 30, 2023.

The initiatives target addressing a skills gap emphasized in a recent NASSCOM report, indicating a 51% shortfall in AI and other disruptive technology skills supply. By 2024, the anticipated demand for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science professionals in India is projected to exceed 1 million, as stated in the report.

Regarding AI integration in school education, the committee's report advocates for age-appropriate curriculum covering essential AI concepts like Machine Learning, Data Management, Programming, and Ethical Considerations

The committee proposes introducing modules on comprehending AI for students in Classes 6 to 8, followed by teaching AI through a mini project in Classes 9 to 10. For advanced levels, the panel recommends teaching Mathematics and Statistics relevant to AI, integrating AI-based library tools, and emphasizing the importance of managing data security and privacy.

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