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The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) plans to begin artificial intelligence (AI) education in public schools from March 2026, aiming to prepare students from grade 6 to grade 12 with modern digital skills.
Officials from the Elementary and Secondary Education Department said that AI is currently not part of the existing computer science syllabus, requiring substantial curriculum revisions across multiple school levels in the province.
The department has revised the computer science curriculum for grades 6 to 12, adding AI-related content and introducing a new domain called “Fundamentals of AI” to ensure coherent learning progression for students.
Students from grades 9 to 12 will have their AI knowledge strengthened, while conceptual clarity and competencies will be improved to align the curriculum with contemporary technological developments across multiple subjects.
Despite the announcement, the rollout faces challenges, as official data shows the province requires 7,192 IT labs, while only 1,657 labs are currently available, leaving many schools without essential practical learning facilities.
The government plans to make 325 non-functional labs operational and provide internet connectivity to 958 schools, while schools without labs will receive Chromebooks to ensure students can access AI-related learning materials.
Teacher shortages also remain a concern, as KP currently has 3,050 IT teachers, while 10,605 are needed, including 3,515 for middle schools, 3,590 for high schools, and 450 for higher secondary schools.
To address the gap, the government will recruit 7,555 teachers, and temporary internees may be appointed immediately to ensure AI lessons can begin on schedule across the province.
Officials said implementing the new AI curriculum will cost Rs7.25 billion, covering IT infrastructure, new labs, teacher recruitment, training, and the creation of an online AI and coding school for students.
