In a bid to make school education relevant to evolving technology, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), along with the Ministry of Education, launched SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) — a national-level Artificial Intelligence skilling initiative for school students and teachers. This initiative has been launched on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and is another important milestone in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The SOAR initiative is designed to provide foundational AI literacy and provides structured exposure to various artificial intelligence concepts, their real-life applications, and responsible usage practices. While the SOAR initiative caters to the school ecosystem, it also aims to simplify the AI landscape for young people and to train teachers so that they can effectively enable students to learn about AI.
Key Components of SOAR
The curriculum for the programme consists of five main modules, including:
- Familiarization with AI Fundamentals
- AI Applications in Daily Life
- Problem Solving With AI Tools
- Responsible AI Usage: Guidelines and Warnings
- AI as a Career Path
The participants will have a chance to experience experiential learning, real-world case studies, and mentor-based experiences that encourage responsible innovation and critical thinking.
Record of Access and Registration
The SOAR course is located on the official Skill/SoAR Digital Hub platform where learners and educators can register to start learning. A QR code has also been released to conveniently allow individuals to register. There has been no specific end-date provided meaning that the programme is still open to interested individuals.
The programme is provided with the support of the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and Skill India as part of their commitment to developing vocational education into mainstream education.
A tweet from the Ministry of Education confirmed the launch and embraced the promotion of the programme:
"Learn some skills, ask some big questions, and find out how you can change the future with technology.”
SOAR connects to the increasing focus and efforts for students not just to be familiar with AI, but to understand the impact it can have on society and the ethical implications - all critical elements of NEP 2020's educational reforms focused on the future.
Don't wait any longer! Sign up on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform today to accelerate your registration and access to the full programme.
