Karnataka will introduce AI education in all schools from Class VI onward and establish the state's first public AI university in Bengaluru, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced over the weekend. The initiatives, presented under the banner "Your era: A new era," are designed to prepare students for AI-driven workplaces and close the digital divide across the state.
Two programs will anchor the school-level rollout. The AI Akshara Abhiyana will integrate AI into the curriculum, while Coding Gurukul will offer free special classes so every student can learn AI and coding skills. The state will also create AI Hubs throughout Karnataka to broaden access to training and support local innovation.
AI university and certificate courses
Karnataka's first public AI university in Bengaluru will begin offering AI certificate courses by January 2027. The institution is intended to serve as a central resource for advanced training and research, complementing the school-level programs.
For educators, the shift means new classroom demands. Teachers will need practical training to deliver AI and coding instruction effectively, and AI for Teachers Courses are one option for building those skills before the curriculum reaches classrooms.
School upgrades and student transport
Shivakumar also outlined a two-year plan to upgrade 1,000 government schools to Karnataka Public Schools. The upgraded schools will feature modern infrastructure, bilingual education, digital classrooms, vocational programs, and student transport from LKG to Class XII. Roughly one million students are expected to benefit.
Free bus travel for school and college students is already in effect statewide, with more than 600,000 free bus passes issued. The combination of transport access and upgraded facilities is meant to remove practical barriers to attendance while the AI curriculum addresses skills gaps.
Those tracking the broader trend of AI adoption in classrooms can follow AI for Education developments as other states and institutions roll out similar programs.
Why this matters for educators
Teachers in Karnataka's government schools will need to adapt quickly to a curriculum that now includes AI and coding from Class VI. The state's timeline - certificate courses by January 2027 and school upgrades over two years - gives educators a narrow window to learn the tools they will be expected to teach. For education professionals outside Karnataka, the announcement signals that AI literacy is becoming a standard part of school curricula, not an optional enrichment.
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