AI, robotics to get a major boost in UP govt schools; IIT-K to train 900 teachers

Uttar Pradesh is aggressively pushing to future-proof its workforce, with the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) collaborating with IIT Kanpur to train 900 government school teachers in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics during the 2026-27 financial year. This intensive eight-week program, commencing next month, is designed to equip educators with crucial skills in Digital Literacy, Computational Thinking, Coding, AI, and Robotics, building on an earlier successful phase where 756 teachers were trained in 2025-26. This initiative is a critical component of Uttar Pradesh's broader strategy to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and India's Skill India Mission, aiming to prepare students for the demands of Industry 4.0. Beyond teacher training, the state recently launched 'Dream Labs' in 600 government schools through a partnership with Nelco Limited, offering practical exposure to emerging technologies like IoT and 3D Printing. Furthermore, the 'AI for All' course has been made compulsory for secondary students in 1,200 schools from the 2026-27 academic session, underscoring a comprehensive effort to embed technological literacy across the education system. The immediate focus will be on the execution of the upcoming teacher training batches, with 750 secondary education teachers and 150 faculty from DIETs and SCERT units participating in a mix of physical and assignment-based learning. This concerted push signals Uttar Pradesh's ambition to not only transform its educational landscape but also cultivate a robust talent pipeline capable of driving innovation and economic growth in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven global economy. The success of these programs will be closely watched as a model for other states.