Students in Classes 9 to 12 are getting their first formal taste of artificial intelligence inside the classroom. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has rolled out An Introductory Module on Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence for Secondary Stage (Grades 9-12). It is built for learners who have never touched AI before, so no prior background is needed to start.
The module falls in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. NCERT has developed it under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
What the NCERT Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence module covers
The focus is on thinking well, not just coding. The module introduces Computational Thinking (CT) as a step-by-step way to break down and solve problems. From there, students learn how AI actually works, where it is used, what it can do, and where it falls short.
Alongside the technical side, the module pushes four habits of mind:
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Responsible use of new technologies
Learning by doing, with or without devices
This is not a read-and-memorise course. NCERT has shaped it around experiential, activity-based learning. Students move through discussions, hands-on exercises, experimentation, and reflection.
Here is the part that matters for schools with patchy infrastructure: the activities can run with or without digital devices. A school short on computers or internet can still take part in full. That keeps the module usable across very different classrooms, from well-equipped city schools to rural ones.
Ethics and safety sit at the centre
NCERT has put real weight on using AI safely and ethically. The module walks students through:
- Data privacy
- Misinformation
- Fairness in AI
- Digital safety
- Checking and verifying AI-generated information
The idea is to turn young learners into informed and confident users of technology who question what AI hands them rather than accept it blindly. Even as the tools get smarter, the module keeps reminding students that human judgement, creativity, and ethical responsibility stay at the heart of learning.
For teachers and parents, the takeaway is simple. AI literacy is entering secondary schooling as a structured subject area, and it starts from zero knowledge, so every student in Grades 9 to 12 can begin on the same footing.