PESHAWAR: The elementary and secondary education department has revised the curricula of the computer science subject and incorporated an Artificial Intelligence (AI) course from grades 6-12, insisting the initiative will “digitally transform students with 21st-century skills.”

Officials said that for the implementation of the computer subject with additional AI materials in government schools, the education department would require Rs7.25 billion to be spent on establishment of new computer labs, hiring of teachers, capacity building of IT teachers, strengthening of IT infrastructure and establishment of online AI and coding school.

They said that the education department moved a summary in that respect to the chief minister for approval of funds.

The officials also said that the education department had submitted a summary for the proposed operationalisation of 325 non-functional IT labs and the provision of internet connectivity in 958 schools at the cost of Rs1.3 billion.

Sends summary for funds approval to CM

They said that from grade 6-8, the SLOs (student learning outcomes) lacked the fundamental AI concepts in the curricula.

The officials said that with the revision of the curricula, essential AI knowledge and skills had been integrated into current thematic areas and introduced a new domain, fundamentals of AI, ensuring coherent progression toward higher grades.

They said that from the grades 9-12, the AI concepts were already present but required deep strengthening. The education department has expanded AI-related competencies, improved conceptual clarity, and aligned the curriculum with contemporary technological developments.

A senior official of the education department told Dawn that the department required 10,605 teachers to teach the IT subject in all middle, high and higher secondary schools in the province.

He, however, said that the department already had 3,050 teachers, while there was a need of additional 7,555 teachers, including 3,515 IT ones, in the government middle schools, 3,590 in high schools and 450 in higher secondary schools.

The official said that as the appointment of regular IT teachers took time to complete, the education department had proposed to appoint internees immediately to fill the gap.

He also said that there was a need for 7,192 IT laboratories in the government middle, high and higher secondary schools across the province and out of them, only 1,657 labs were available.

The official said that the education department has proposed to provide Chromebooks in the schools where the IT lab was not available.

“The education department will purchase 51,780 Chromebooks at the cost of Rs4.6 billion,” he said.

The official said that after the revision of curricula to integrate the AI, the education department had tasked the Directorate of Curriculum and Teachers Education with reviewing and enriching the current curriculum.

He revealed the formation of a provincial review committee, composed of experts from DCTE, KP Textbook Board, elementary and secondary education department, Elementary and Secondary Education Foundation and KP Information Technology Board.

The official said that the committee has developed an AI-integrated curriculum ensuring coherence, progression and alignment with emerging technologies.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2026