Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a plan to train 7,500 teachers across the island in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), as part of a broader STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education initiative. The training will focus on integrating AI, biotechnology, information technology, and engineering into the national curriculum, with the aim of modernizing Sri Lanka’s education system.
According to a statement from the government information department, digital transformation is considered a key priority in the country’s education policy. The government has encouraged education authorities to collaborate with both public and private sectors to utilize AI and emerging technologies.
The Skills College of Technology (SCOT CAMPUS), an institution specializing in IT, mechatronics, and robotics, has successfully conducted a pilot project for this initiative. The training will be rolled out in three stages, targeting teachers from all provinces, to equip them with the necessary skills to implement the STEAM concept in schools.
This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Education’s plans to introduce AI into the school curriculum in 2024, with a focus on robotics, machine learning, data mining, and computer vision. The revamp is part of the government’s broader goal to address labor shortages through automation and robotics, as Sri Lanka faces an aging population and a significant rise in labor migration.