In Focus by The Hindu In Focus-Parley | Should AI be introduced as part of school curricula?
Oct 30, 2025
Aparajita Bharti, a public policy expert, and Viplav Bakshi, an EdTech innovator, dive into the contentious topic of integrating AI into school curricula. They clarify the difference between AI literacy and skills, emphasizing the importance of early literacy. Discussing past technology curriculum failures, they address the concerns of AI reliance among students. The pair advocate for continuous teacher training and highlight the need for context-sensitive approaches to AI education. Their proposed roadmap suggests foundational skills in early years, transitioning to AI literacy in middle school.
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Differentiate Literacy From Skills
- AI education must distinguish AI literacy from AI skills so curriculum matches age and goals.
- Early grades should focus on critical thinking and understanding AI's limits rather than technical development.
Design Challenges And Infrastructure Gaps
- Tech curricula often become rote and degrade without hands-on, context-aware design.
- Infrastructure gaps and language limits make large-scale AI teaching premature in many schools.
Teach Critical Evaluation Skills
- Study long-term effects of AI on learning before assuming benefits or harms.
- Teach students to critically evaluate AI outputs and replicate reasoning, not just accept answers.