NCERT Launches 20-Hour AI and Computational Thinking Curriculum for Secondary Classes

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced an introductory 20-hour module on computational thinking and artificial intelligence for students in classes 9 to 12. Prepared in consultation with IIT Madras and IIT Jodhpur, the activity-based curriculum aims to build foundational technical literacy while cultivating critical awareness regarding the societal risks associated with emerging technologies.

Relevance to Foundational Tech Literacy and Governance

As artificial intelligence penetrates everyday life, early pedagogical intervention ensures that young citizens evaluate automated outputs with scrutiny rather than unquestioning reliance:

• Focus on Ethical Safeguards: The curriculum places particular focus on detecting deepfakes, understanding data privacy, preventing misinformation, and addressing fairness in algorithmic systems.
• Device-Agnostic Pedagogy: To ensure equitable access across diverse schooling environments, the module uses discussions, experimentation, and practical exercises designed to be conducted with or without digital hardware.
• Human Agency in Technology: The course framework underscores that human judgement, creativity, and ethical responsibility must remain central when deploying machine learning tools.

Context in Educational Policy

Modernising school curricula to bridge the gap between rapidly evolving technologies and secondary schooling represents a key priority within national education reforms. By moving beyond passive consumption to analytical comprehension, the module prepares learners to navigate algorithmic limitations, identify synthetic media, and understand the ethical boundaries governing personal data security.