IIT Madras to bring AI into classrooms with teacher-focused program

IIT Madras is extending its AI for All program to schoolteachers from kindergarten to Class XII, aiming to bring artificial intelligence into classrooms across India.

The expansion was announced on Sept 8 by Director Professor V Kamakoti. The initiative is run in partnership with the IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation and the Ministry of Education’s SWAYAM Plus platform.

Previously, the program offered five courses covering AI in physics, chemistry, accounting, cricket analytics, and AI/ML with Python.

A new course, AI for Educators, has now been added, focusing specifically on K-12 teachers.

The courses range from 25 to 45 hours, are free of charge, and offer optional certification through proctored tests at nominal fees. Teachers can register until October 10, 2025.

“K-12 teachers are a critical component of this transformation. By empowering them with AI skills, we enhance education and help in nation-building,” Prof Kamakoti said.

Prof R Sarathi, Dean (Planning) and SWAYAM Plus Coordinator, emphasized that no prior coding experience is needed.

“A basic level of digital literacy is enough. These courses are NCrF-aligned, employability-oriented, and constructed using real datasets and case studies,” he added.

SWAYAM Plus currently hosts over 430 courses across 15 sectors, with more than 3.7 lakh learners enrolled.

Several courses are credit-aligned and peer-reviewed by IIT Madras faculty.

In a related initiative, IIT Madras hosted an Inclusive Education Roundtable on Sept 1, bringing together educators, policymakers, and technologists to explore strategies for digital education accessibility, particularly for individuals with disabilities.

Attendees also toured the Centre of Excellence to view assistive technologies developed by Prof Srinivasa Chakravarthy’s team.

This expansion reflects a shift in India’s AI education strategy, moving beyond engineering students to include teachers from arts, science, commerce, and school streams.

By equipping teachers with AI skills, IIT Madras hopes to embed AI learning into classrooms nationwide.

Teachers interested in enrolling can register directly on the SWAYAM Plus portal or contact [email protected].