Punjab approves new curriculum with AI education from Class I and 25% fewer textbooks

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a special meeting on education reforms that approved a major school curriculum overhaul. The plan includes cutting textbook volume by 25%, introducing artificial intelligence education from Class I to XII, attaching QR codes to textbooks for video lessons, and launching mental health training for teachers for the first time. The government set a deadline to complete printing of the new textbooks before March next year.

The plan pushes AI education down to Class I, directly changing curriculum structure, teacher training needs and digital infrastructure requirements in Punjab government schools, and creating a clear demand signal for education products and services. Two direct effects: AI curriculum and laboratory construction will drive teacher training and equipment procurement; QR code video lessons depend on smartphones, internet connectivity and quality digital content, so uneven resources may limit actual impact. The evidence limit is that the plan has just been approved, and AI curriculum content, age differentiation, teacher training arrangements and infrastructure investment have not been published, while whether textbook reduction reaches exams and homework requirements remains to be seen. AI education covering Class I to XII will change curriculum design and teacher training needs in Punjab government schools QR code video lessons depend on devices, connectivity and digital content supply, so under-resourced areas may struggle to receive equal learning support