Kerala’s Bold Move: 4.5 Lakh Class 10 Students Get Hands‑on Robotics Training This Week!
In a bold step to ignite a robotics revolution in classrooms, Kerala’s education department has launched a state‑wide robotics training programme for around 4.5 lakh Class 10 students in government and aided schools, making it one of India’s largest school‑level robotics drives in 2026.
Kite, the technology arm of the state’s General Education Department, has rolled out intensive robotics camps across all districts to give every Class 10 student real, hands‑on experience with robotics and coding before their SSLC board exams.
A Classroom Revolution: From Textbooks to Circuit Boards
The programme, described by officials as a “milestone” in Kerala’s public education technology journey, is tightly aligned with the revised Class 10 Information Technology textbook, which now includes robotics as a core topic.
Students are no longer just reading about circuits and sensors — they are building them. In well‑equipped high‑tech labs and school IT rooms, teenagers are being introduced to the three core parts of a robot: sensors (input), microcontrollers that process commands, and actuators that produce movement or sound (output).
Each student gets hands‑on time with KITE‑provided robotics kits that include Arduino UNO boards, breadboards, LEDs, buzzers, and other essential components, turning the science lab into a mini robotics workshop.
Two‑Step Training: Awareness First, Then Coding in Action
The training is structured in two well‑planned sessions to ensure both conceptual clarity and practical skill.
In the first session, students learn about the importance of robotics in everyday life — from household gadgets to industrial arms and space missions. They explore how robots are used in healthcare, agriculture, and defence, sparking interest in tech careers.
In the second, practice‑oriented session, students dive into block‑based coding using PictoBlox, a visual programming tool that makes coding simple and fun. They write simple programs to blink LEDs, control buzzers, and even create small automated tasks, all while understanding the flow of logic and control structures.
To maximise participation, one robotics kit is shared among four or five students, encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and problem‑solving in groups.
Little KITES: Students Teaching Students
What makes this initiative truly revolutionary is that it is being driven largely by students themselves. The camps are being conducted by Little KITES, India’s largest student‑led IT network, whose trained student mentors are now leading workshops in their own schools and neighbouring institutions.
These “Little KITEs” are not just assistants — they are the trainers, troubleshooters, and project leaders, guiding their peers through coding logic and circuit connections. This peer‑learning model has enhanced engagement and reduced the pressure on teachers, while also building leadership and communication skills among the student mentors.
Schools that do not yet have a Little KITES unit are being supported by nearby units, ensuring that no child is left out due to lack of local expertise.
How It Helps in SSLC and Beyond
The programme is not just about future‑ready skills — it has a direct bearing on the SSLC examination. The revised Class 10 IT syllabus now includes robotics concepts, and this hands‑on training is designed to help students understand those topics more deeply and score better in both theory and practical exams.
Officials say the initiative aims to make every Class 10 student in government and aided schools technologically proficient, preparing them for the rapidly evolving world of automation, AI, and smart devices.
A Template for India?
With around 4.5 lakh students set to benefit by mid‑January 2026, Kerala’s robotics push is being closely watched by other states and national education bodies as a potential model for scaling hands‑on STEM education in public schools.
If replicated at the national level, such state‑backed robotics training could transform India’s secondary education, turning classrooms into innovation hubs and students from “consumers” of technology into its creators and problem‑solving engineers.
