AI in skill education instead of third language in select high schools; Hindi teachers’ association opposes

The Block Education Officer concerned has been instructed to appoint one ‘AI guest teacher’ per school to teach AI.

| Photo Credit: Getty Images

The State government has taken steps to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Skill Education instead of a third language in 1,652 government high schools in the State under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) from the 2026-27 academic year.The ‘Samagra Shikshana-Karnataka’ (SSK) has issued a circular for the appointment of guest teachers to teach AI and for necessary preparations to be made at the school level.However, the Karnataka High School Hindi Language Teachers’ Association has expressed objection to the government move and has written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, urging the withdrawal of the circular.AI teaching in schoolsAs per the direction of the State government and the approval of the Project Approval Board of the Union government for 2026-27, AI skill education is being implemented in a total of 1,642 government high schools, including 1,180 newly approved schools, 381 NSQF schools approved in 2024-25 and 2025-26, and 81 existing single-sector schools.In the 81 single-sector schools, the beauty and wellness, retail, and apparel sectors currently operating have been replaced by Artificial Intelligence.The Block Education Officer concerned has been instructed to appoint one ‘AI guest teacher’ per school to teach AI.In line with the National Education Policy and with the aim of developing employability skills and professional competence among students, it has been suggested that AI in skill education be chosen as a subject in government high schools instead of a third language subject.In addition, it has been asked to take necessary steps to deploy the third language teachers in schools implementing AI in skill education instead of a third language subject, to nearby government schools where there is a shortage of teachers.Teachers opposedHowever, the Karnataka High School Hindi Language Teachers’ Association, in its letter to the Chief Minister, said that the order will plunge their future into darkness.“Implementing an AI course along with a third language will help children learn AI along with languages. The three-language formula should be continued in Karnataka, and the order issued by the SSK should be withdrawn immediately,” urged D. Manjunath, president of the association. Published - July 20, 2026 09:53 pm IST