Lakshadweep schools adopt robotics, AI in classrooms

Kochi: Lakshadweep is set to integrate robotics into practical sessions for Class 10 students, following the model recently introduced in Kerala. Since schools in the islands follow the Kerala syllabus in both Malayalam and English medium, the decision will automatically apply there as well.

From June 2 onwards, robotics has been made a compulsory subject under the SCERT syllabus. Alongside this, Artificial Intelligence has been introduced in the ICT curriculum for Classes 7, 8, and 9.

As part of the initiative, the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), the technology arm of the state’s General Education Department, has distributed robotics kits to schools across the nine inhabited islands of Lakshadweep. According to an official release on Thursday, 100 kits have been supplied, with one kit provided for every three students to ensure effective, hands-on learning.

To support the rollout, KITE has launched a five-day training programme for high school ICT teachers and DIET faculty from Lakshadweep. The training, which began today at KITE’s Regional Resource Centre in Ernakulam, was inaugurated online by Kerala’s Minister for General Education, V Sivankutty.

“The Kerala government is committed to providing all necessary resources, including the latest technology, to ensure the students of Lakshadweep receive the best possible education,” the minister said.

KITE CEO K Anvar Sadath formally handed over the robotics kits to school representatives. He noted that the kits will help students explore the concepts included in the new Class 10 ICT textbook chapter, World of Robots. Activities will include circuit building, working with sensors and actuators, and using computer programming to control electronic devices.

The robotics initiative follows an AI training programme conducted last month by KITE for postgraduate teachers in Lakshadweep schools. Sadath said the next phase will involve training primary and upper primary teachers.

He also highlighted that KITE has already distributed 29,000 robotics kits to schools across Kerala, and that arrangements have been made for schools requiring additional kits to purchase them directly.

The event was attended by K K Shanavas, Academic Expert from the Lakshadweep Education Directorate, along with KITE faculty members A R Muhammad Aslam, Swapna J Nair, N P Jayan, and Aji John.

Earlier, the central government had attempted to convert schools in the Union Territory to CBSE English medium. The Kerala government opposed the move, arguing that students should have the freedom to choose their curriculum rather than being forced into one. In June, the Kerala High Court stayed the intervention, allowing the state syllabus to continue in Lakshadweep.