IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, in partnership with the Union Education Ministry’s SWAYAM Plus platform, has launched a free Artificial Intelligence training program targeting rural school teachers across India. This landmark initiative aims to equip educators with practical AI knowledge and tools to integrate technology into classroom teaching, assessments and student engagement.
Scheduled to begin on February 5, 2026, the ‘AI for Educators – K12 Teachers’ certification programme is open to teachers from Classes I to XII, with registration open until January 31, 2026.
About the Programme
Course Structure
The initiative offers a 40-hour structured training, delivered online, designed to help educators confidently adopt and apply AI tools to enhance learning outcomes.
The curriculum includes an introductory session and eight core modules covering:
- Generative AI tools and prompt engineering
- Gamification and storytelling techniques for better engagement
- AI-based lesson planning to simplify curriculum delivery
- Student engagement tools, including AR/VR and visualization platforms
- AI-enabled assessment methods for effective evaluation
- Subject-specific use cases to contextualise AI in practical teaching
- Inclusive education strategies that ensure equitable technology use
- Online and blended learning platforms to support hybrid classrooms
Objectives and Benefits
Empowering Rural Educators
The programme is designed to bridge the digital divide by equipping rural teachers with necessary AI competencies that were traditionally limited to urban or resource-rich environments. By focusing on practical applications, the course helps teachers enhance classroom effectiveness, improve student engagement, and adapt teaching strategies to the demands of digital learning.
Future-Ready Teaching Skills
With AI rapidly transforming education globally, enhancing teacher proficiency in AI-enabled tools — such as personalized content delivery, analytics-based assessment, and interactive learning environments — is crucial. Participants will receive real-world exposure to technologies that can streamline lesson planning and introduce innovative instructional methods.
Certification and Incentives
Participation in the programme concludes with a virtual, proctored MCQ-based assessment. Teachers who successfully complete the course and assessment will receive a certificate issued by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation.
Importantly, the certification fee is waived for the first 500 rural school teachers who finish the programme, making it a highly attractive opportunity for educators with limited access to paid professional development.
Who Should Apply?
- Teachers from rural government or private schools responsible for Classes I to XII
- Educators seeking to integrate technology and AI into their teaching practice
- School instructors aiming to enhance student engagement and classroom interactivity
- Teachers interested in acquiring a certificate in AI pedagogy without financial barriers
Registrations must be completed by January 31, 2026, via the official portal hosted by IIT Madras Pravartak.
Significance in the Broader Education Context
This initiative reflects a growing push to democratize AI literacy in Indian education — especially in under-resourced regions — aligning with national goals of digital inclusion and teacher capacity building. By leveraging institutional expertise from one of India’s premier technical institutes and the national SWAYAM Plus platform, the programme aims to ensure that technology enhances learning rather than widening educational disparities.
The training also supports broader national efforts to embed AI understanding across diverse disciplines and school environments, anticipating future workplace demands.
