India's Education Ministry Prioritizes Teacher Training in AI Tools
The Education Ministry will focus on training teachers to use artificial intelligence tools in classrooms over the next three to four months, a senior official said. The effort targets lesson planning, content creation, student assessment, and feedback systems.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the "AI Literacy for Teachers" programme at the IIT Madras Technology Summit on May 5. The initiative, run by Bodhan AI-a Centre of Excellence in AI for Education at IIT Madras-aims to train 10 lakh teachers by 2027.
Why Teachers Need Training First
Many teachers lack basic knowledge of AI concepts, the official said. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is creating new textbooks that include AI courses, but instructors must understand the technology before teaching it.
"The teacher needs to understand AI as a pedagogical tool, AI for governance, and AI as a concept before transmitting it to students," the official said.
The programme will integrate AI into routine teaching practices to reduce workload and improve learning outcomes. Bodhan AI describes the technology as a "trusted co-pilot" for teachers, helping improve instructional quality and save time on routine tasks.
Rollout Timeline
Pilot projects begin in the coming months. The first public cohort launches on Teachers' Day, September 5. Scaling to 10 lakh teachers is expected by 2027.
Pradhan said the initiative would help create a "responsible, ethical and India-centric AI ecosystem in education." He emphasized that training 1 million teachers is foundational to ensuring meaningful adoption of technology at scale across India's diverse school system.
V. Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, said AI literacy among teachers was essential. "India's strength lies in its scale and diversity, and technology must rise to meet that complexity," he said.
For educators looking to develop AI skills, the AI Learning Path for Teachers provides structured training in classroom tools and education automation aligned with these initiatives. Additional resources on AI for Education cover how institutions are integrating these tools into teaching practices.
Your membership also unlocks:
