PESHAWAR—The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has established the first state-run AI-powered virtual school system in Pakistan, introducing teachers developed through artificial intelligence. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi formally approved the creation of the AI Education Authority to lead this initiative.
To begin the transition, the government has moved 46 public schools to this online education framework on a pilot basis, including 33 schools in settled districts and 13 schools in the merged districts.
Expansion and Technical Infrastructure
To broaden the reach of the AI-powered virtual school system in Pakistan, the administration will roll out a specialized Annual Development Programme (ADP) scheme in June. This phase will convert an additional 175 schools into virtual learning institutions. The project relies on a central digital teaching studio to deliver lessons across the province.
The AI-powered system currently delivers instruction in several core subjects:
- English and Mathematics
- Physics and Chemistry
- Biology
Financial Allocation and Multilingual Availability
The project operates with a total approved cost of 153.8 million rupees. Out of this budget, the government has allocated 44.8 million rupees specifically for the establishment of the Tele-Taleem Hub.
A central feature of the AI-powered virtual school system in Pakistan is the constant availability of the AI teacher. The digital instructors remain accessible 24 hours a day and provide lessons in Urdu, English, and Pashto to cater to the linguistic diversity of the province’s students.
Ehsaas Internship Program for BS Students
In a parallel move to support higher education, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch the Ehsaas Internship Program, which provides stipends alongside professional training for BS students. During a briefing for Minister of Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, officials outlined that the internship duration will range from a minimum of two months to a maximum of six months.
Under the program’s criteria, students who maintain a minimum 3.0 CGPA qualify for the Ehsaas Internship. The government will provide selected students with a monthly compensation of 25,000 rupees. To facilitate the rollout, the administration will establish coordination offices at both the university and degree college levels.
