LAHORE: In an apparent move toward modernizing the province’s education system, the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) has approved the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) education for students up to the fifth grade.
The initiative includes a comprehensive plan to establish AI laboratories in all primary schools across Punjab.
MM News has learnt that in order to facilitate this transition, officials confirmed that a regular curriculum has already been developed.
Recognizing a current void in specialized infrastructure and personnel within government schools, the province plans to recruit qualified educationists on a contract basis to teach the subject.
The rollout of the program will be executed in two strategic phases.
In the first phase, AI will be introduced as a separate, standalone subject within the primary school curriculum. The second phase will focus on the physical infrastructure, seeing the establishment of modern science and AI labs to provide students with hands-on technical experience.
Addressing potential budgetary challenges, officials stated that an alternative proposal is in place: should there be a shortage of funds, basic AI lessons will be integrated directly into existing science textbooks.
The final approval for the publication of the AI curriculum is expected during the next board meeting. The government plans to implement the program in phases, with a full rollout scheduled to begin in the 2027 academic year.
