Karnataka has released details of a new artificial intelligence curriculum for Class 9 students in 1,800 government high schools, according to Careers360 and Elets digitalLEARNING. The Department of School Education and Literacy shared the syllabus on 10 November 2026, teaching AI through four areas of mathematics: statistics, calculus, linear algebra and probability.
The subject, called "AI in Skill Education", is offered as a vocational subject under the National Skills Qualifications Framework, from the 2026-27 academic year, through Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, according to the reports. Students in Classes 9 and 10 who choose an NSQF subject can study it in place of a third language. A post by the education department on X explains the design: statistics covers data exploration, calculus covers model optimisation, linear algebra covers uncovering unknown variables, and probability covers predictive analysis, breaking complex ideas into accessible school-level modules, according to Careers360.
Each participating school was asked to appoint one AI guest teacher for 2026-27 on an honorarium of 20,000 rupees a month, according to Elets digitalLEARNING. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said in September that AI-based learning, which began in Class 9 this year, will be extended up to Class 12 in the coming years. The aim, according to the department, is to give students exposure to future-oriented skills — problem-solving, critical thinking, technical knowledge and employability — at secondary-school level.
Readers should note the school count differs between reports: 1,642 schools were approved when the programme was first announced in September — 1,180 newly approved high schools, 381 existing NSQF schools and 81 single-sector schools — and the department now puts the figure at 1,800 government high schools. This article uses the department's updated figure and gives the earlier approval number for context. The move has drawn some opposition: the Karnataka State High School Hindi Teachers' Association objected when the subject was announced in September, according to JagranJosh, because AI replaces the third language for students who choose it. What happens next is the rollout itself — whether enough guest teachers are in place, and whether the subject reaches Class 12 as the minister promised.