AI and Robotics Labs Rolled Out in 50 Government Schools Across Visakhapatnam
Andhra Pradesh Education and IT minister Nara Lokesh inaugurated AI and robotics labs at Chandrampalem ZP High School on August 29. The ₹8 crore initiative, fully funded by Cyient Foundation, equips 50 government schools to train students in classes 7-10.
The five-year programme-CyAILS (Cyient AI Lab for Schools)-is set to reach an estimated 25,000 students from rural and semi-urban backgrounds. More than 200 government teachers are being trained and mentored to independently run the labs, building capacity inside the system instead of outsourcing it.
Why this matters for government officials
- Zero-capex model for the state: Corporate-funded infrastructure with public oversight, easy to replicate in other districts through MoUs.
- Equity-first access: Rural and semi-urban government schools get priority, reducing the skills gap early.
- Teacher-led sustainability: 200+ teachers trained to operate labs ensures continuity after setup.
- Aligned curriculum: Custom syllabus aligned with national and global references like NITI Aayog's AI initiatives (NITI Aayog) and CBSE's AI modules, plus global frameworks such as AI4K12 and tools like MIT App Inventor.
- Operational efficiency: Students learn with Google Teachable Machine, OpenAI, and AI Robotics Kits-moving from theory to practice quickly.
What's happening on the ground
Kotanu Srinivas, a government school teacher, shared that students are adapting quickly. "Earlier, we spent days explaining concepts. Now, when we post a question, AI responds in text, video, or audio. Students get curious, then they keep going on their own."
Cyient founder and chairman B.V.R. Mohan Reddy called AI "the foundation of how the world will think, work and live," noting their labs will offer direct training in AI, robotics, and STEM skills to a large student base, while teachers receive structured mentorship.
Programme at a glance
- Coverage: 50 government high schools in Visakhapatnam district.
- Duration: Five years with phased deployment and monitoring.
- Reach: Estimated 25,000 students will benefit; a large share will receive hands-on AI and robotics instruction.
- Tools and methods: Practical projects using Google Teachable Machine, OpenAI, AI Robotics Kits; app-building via MIT App Inventor.
- Teacher enablement: 200+ teachers trained to run labs independently.
- Curriculum references: NITI Aayog's AI efforts, CBSE AI STEP Up, AI4K12, and MIT App Inventor.
Implementation checklist for districts and departments
- Set up a PPP framework (funding, roles, data safeguards, maintenance responsibilities) with clear SLAs.
- Identify schools based on need (connectivity, staff readiness, student density) and stagger rollouts.
- Build a teacher pipeline: nominate motivated staff, schedule training cycles, and provide time-table slots to run labs.
- Ensure infrastructure basics: reliable power, internet fallback, secure device storage, and quick repair protocols.
- Adopt a safe-use policy: content filters, age-appropriate usage, consent norms, and audit trails for AI tools.
- Track outcomes quarterly: student participation, projects completed, teacher certifications, and community showcases.
What success can look like in 12 months
- AI modules integrated into classes 7-10 schedules with weekly lab hours.
- Students building simple classifiers with Teachable Machine and basic apps with MIT App Inventor.
- Teacher-led sessions without external facilitators; documented lesson plans and project repositories.
- District-level demo days to share student work and gather feedback from parents and local industry.
If your department is planning similar scale-ups or teacher skilling, you can explore role-based AI upskilling options here: AI courses by job function.
Your membership also unlocks:
