Kerala Becomes First Indian State to Make Robotics Education Mandatory
Kerala has set a new milestone in the education sector by becoming the first state in India to make robotics education mandatory for all 10th-grade students starting from the new academic session on June 2, 2025. The initiative will benefit over 430,000 students statewide.
According to an official statement released on May 18, robotics has been integrated into the 10th-grade ICT textbook. Chapter 6, titled "The World of Robots", provides students with basic knowledge of robotics through fun and engaging activities.
Mr. K. Anvar Sadath, CEO of KITE and Chairman of the ICT Textbook Committee, stated that the module includes circuit design, use of sensors and actuators, and programming to control electronic devices.
Hands-on Learning with Robotics and AI
The textbook’s first practical activity teaches students to build an automated hand sanitizer dispenser using a robotics kit with components like Arduino breadboard, IR sensor, servo motor, and jumper wires.
Following that, students will learn to create a smart home automation system that includes a face-recognizing smart door. For this, they'll use PictoBlox software and its face detection tool to program the system via a laptop webcam and an Arduino kit provided by KITE.
The curriculum is designed to help students solve real-world problems using modern technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence.
Teacher Training and Resource Allocation
KITE has already conducted the first phase of training on the new ICT textbook for 9,924 teachers. Dedicated training sessions on robotics for educators will be held in July.
Additional robotic kits will be made available to schools, and support will be extended to unaided schools following the state curriculum that may require assistance.
The ICT textbook will be accessible in Malayalam, English, Tamil, and Kannada to ensure inclusive learning for all students.