MP to introduce AI from Class 8, vocational courses in schools under Mohan Yadav reforms
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh is embedding AI skills into its school curriculum from Class 8 onwards — and pairing it with vocational training in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries. With a 16 June deadline, a dropout re-entry scheme, and record enrolment gains of 32.4% in Class 1, CM Mohan Yadav's education overhaul is one of the most wide-ranging state-level school reforms announced this year.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Yadav approved AI skills education for Classes 8 to 12 in Madhya Pradesh on 21 May 2025 .
Vocational training in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries will be introduced at the high school level.
All reforms must be in place before the academic session begins on 16 June .
26 schools that achieved 100 per cent exam results will be publicly felicitated.
The Shiksha Ghar Yojana will offer dropout students a re-entry route via the MP State Open School Education Board.
Class 1 enrolment rose 32.4 per cent in 2025-26; Classes 9–12 enrolment grew by 4.25 per cent , the highest in recent years.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday, 21 May approved a sweeping education reform roadmap for the state, directing the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills across Classes 8 to 12 and ordering the rollout of vocational training in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries at the high school level. The decisions emerged from a comprehensive review meeting of the School Education Department chaired by the Chief Minister in Bhopal.
Key Decisions from the Review Meeting
Chief Minister Yadav directed officials to complete all preparations before the new academic session begins on 16 June, with emphasis on regular monitoring, technology-driven learning, and innovation-based pedagogy. The dual thrust — digital skills through AI and ground-level vocational training in farm-linked trades — signals an attempt to bridge the gap between classroom learning and employment readiness in a state where agriculture remains the dominant livelihood.
'Education should not remain limited to textbooks alone. Students must be equipped with practical skills, AI knowledge, and employment-oriented training so they can contribute effectively to society and the economy,' Chief Minister Yadav said after the meeting.
Recognition for High-Performing Schools
The meeting also approved public felicitation for schools recording 100 per cent examination results, with 26 schools having achieved this benchmark in the current year. Yadav further directed that institutions securing above 90 or 95 per cent results should also receive formal recognition. 'Schools that consistently deliver excellent results are creating the future of Madhya Pradesh. Their contribution should be publicly acknowledged and celebrated,' he added.
Shiksha Ghar Yojana for Dropouts
A significant social inclusion measure — the 'Shiksha Ghar Yojana' — was approved in principle to assist students who dropped out after failing Class 8 or higher. The scheme will enable them to complete High School and Higher Secondary education through the Madhya Pradesh State Open School Education Board, offering a re-entry pathway for a segment that typically falls out of the formal education system permanently.
Cultural Education and Curriculum Additions
On the cultural front, Yadav directed the inclusion of King Veer Vikramaditya's biography in school textbooks and ordered the preparation of an engaging book on Guru Sandipani, the teacher of Lord Krishna. 'Our government is building a strong foundation for a developed and self-reliant Madhya Pradesh by ensuring quality education through modern Sandipani schools,' he told officials.
Record Enrolment Gains in 2025-26
The School Education Department reported notable enrolment improvements. Enrolment in Class 1 rose by 32.4 per cent in 2025-26 compared to the previous year, while enrolment in Classes 9 to 12 increased by 4.25 per cent — described as the highest jump in recent years. These figures suggest the state's retention and entry-level enrolment drives are gaining traction, even as the quality and infrastructure gaps that prompted these reforms remain a work in progress. How swiftly the AI curriculum and vocational modules are operationalised before the 16 June session start will be the first real test of the government's execution capacity.
Point of View
But the 16 June deadline leaves almost no runway for curriculum design, teacher training, or infrastructure procurement — the three bottlenecks that have historically derailed similar state-level tech-in-education pushes. The vocational agriculture modules are arguably more immediately impactful for a state where a majority of students come from rural households, yet they received less emphasis in the announcement. The Shiksha Ghar Yojana addresses a real and large problem — Class 8 dropouts — but open-school re-entry rates across Indian states have historically been low without sustained counselling support. The record enrolment numbers are genuinely encouraging, but enrolment and learning outcomes are different metrics; the reforms will need a credible assessment framework to prove they move the latter.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What AI education reforms has Madhya Pradesh announced for schools?
Madhya Pradesh has approved the introduction of Artificial Intelligence skills as part of the curriculum for Classes 8 to 12. The directive was issued by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on 21 May 2025, with all preparations to be completed before the academic session begins on 16 June.
What is the Shiksha Ghar Yojana announced by CM Mohan Yadav?
The Shiksha Ghar Yojana is a re-entry scheme approved in principle for students who dropped out after failing Class 8 or higher. It will allow them to complete High School and Higher Secondary education through the Madhya Pradesh State Open School Education Board.
Which vocational courses will be introduced in Madhya Pradesh high schools?
Vocational training in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries will be rolled out at the high school level as part of the state's education reforms directed by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
How much has school enrolment grown in Madhya Pradesh in 2025-26?
Class 1 enrolment increased by 32.4 per cent in 2025-26 compared to the previous year, while enrolment in Classes 9 to 12 rose by 4.25 per cent — the highest increase in recent years, according to the School Education Department.
Which schools will be recognised under the new felicitation policy in Madhya Pradesh?
Schools that recorded 100 per cent examination results will be publicly felicitated; 26 schools achieved this benchmark in the current year. Chief Minister Yadav also directed recognition for schools securing above 90 or 95 per cent results.
