Kerala expands Little KITES IT clubs from Class 5 to Class 12
Synopsis
Kerala's Little KITES — already the country's largest school ICT club network — is extending its reach from Class 5 through Class 12, turning every public school year into a rung on a single tech-learning ladder. With 78,336 applicants, UNICEF recognition, and student projects tackling sign-language translation and underwater rescue, this is less a school programme and more a state-level talent pipeline in the making.
Key Takeaways
Little KITES IT clubs will now cover Class 5 to Class 12 , up from the earlier Class 8–10 focus.
The expansion was announced by KITE CEO K.
Anvar Sadath at a state-level camp in Kochi .
The ongoing state camp shortlisted 204 top students from 78,336 applicants across 2,248 school units .
Student projects include Robo-Arjun (underwater rescue), V-Glove (sign language to speech), and a Malayalam Care Bot for the elderly.
Around 50 student-produced animation films were screened at the camp.
The programme has received international recognition, including from UNICEF , and features mentoring by experts such as Dr Prahlad Vadakkepat of the National University of Singapore .
Kerala is set to extend its lead in school-level digital education by expanding the flagship Little KITES IT clubs to cover students from Class 5 to Class 12, bringing the entire public school spectrum under a single, student-led technology network. The expansion was announced by KITE CEO K. Anvar Sadath at a state-level camp in Kochi, marking a decisive shift from the programme's earlier focus on Classes 8–10 to a seamless, end-to-end tech learning pipeline.
What the Expansion Covers
Implemented by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), Little KITES is already recognised as the country's largest ICT club network in schools. The redesigned programme extends hands-on training in programming, robotics, animation, electronics, and emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence to upper-primary students who were previously outside the network's scope.
Officials describe the revamped framework as a
Point of View
Sign-language translators, elderly-care bots. That is a curriculum philosophy, not just a syllabus tweak. The risk, as with all state-led tech programmes, is sustaining quality across thousands of school units once the headline camp energy dissipates. UNICEF recognition is a credibility marker, but the harder metric is whether Little KITES alumni are entering higher education or the workforce with measurably stronger digital skills than peers in other states.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Little KITES programme in Kerala?
Little KITES is a student-led IT club network run by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), recognised as the country's largest ICT club network in schools. It offers hands-on training in programming, robotics, animation, electronics, and AI to public school students.
What is new about the Little KITES expansion announced in 2025?
The programme is being expanded to cover students from Class 5 to Class 12, widening its earlier focus that was limited to Classes 8–10. The announcement was made by KITE CEO K. Anvar Sadath at a state-level camp in Kochi.
How large is the Little KITES programme?
The ongoing state camp shortlisted 204 top students from 78,336 applicants across 2,248 school units, reflecting the programme's extensive reach across Kerala's public school system.
What kind of projects are Little KITES students working on?
Student projects include Robo-Arjun, an underwater rescue prototype developed by Malappuram students; V-Glove, which translates sign language into speech; Sonar Pulse devices for the visually impaired; and a Malayalam-enabled Care Bot to assist the elderly with voice commands and medicine reminders.
Has Little KITES received any international recognition?
Yes, Little KITES has received international recognition including from UNICEF. The programme also features mentoring by global experts such as Dr Prahlad Vadakkepat of the National University of Singapore and startup ecosystem leaders.
