Karnataka’s AI vs Third Language Debate: What Schools WantKarnataka’s AI vs Third Language Debate: What Schools Want
Karnataka’s AI vs Third Language Debate: What Schools Are Asking For
Karnataka’s move to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an alternative to the third language in government schools has triggered concerns among private school representatives.
The Karnataka Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools has opposed the government’s decision to replace the third-language option with AI in Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) and selected government high schools. The association has urged the government to provide students with both AI and third-language options instead of making them choose between the two.
AI Introduced in Government Schools
According to the report, the Samagra Shikshana Karnataka (SSK) issued a circular introducing AI in 1,642 government high schools as a National Skill Qualifying Framework (NSQF) subject for students in Grades 9 and 10.
Under the decision, students can choose AI in place of the third language.
While the introduction of AI is aimed at giving students exposure to an increasingly important technology, the private schools’ association believes students should not have to sacrifice their third-language learning to study AI.
Why the Third Language Matters
The association highlighted the importance of third languages for Karnataka’s students. The third-language list includes Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Konkani, Tulu, Malayalam, Hindi and Sanskrit.
According to the association, these languages represent important mother tongues and community connections. It argues that forcing students to choose between AI and these languages could weaken their linguistic and cultural connections and affect minority rights and school autonomy.
Concerns Over Educational Equality
Another major concern raised is the possibility of different curriculum structures between government and private or aided schools.
The association warned that if government schools are required to replace languages with AI while private and aided schools continue with their existing curriculum, students could face an unequal curriculum structure while appearing for the same SSLC board examination.
The association stressed that students under the same board should have access to equal curriculum standards, evaluation and opportunities.
Appeal to the Chief Minister
The association has submitted a petition to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, requesting that students be given the choice of studying both AI and a third language.
The issue has also been raised by MLCs, including Puttanna, Shashil Namoshi and Balkis Banu, who have reportedly requested the Chief Minister to intervene.
The Bigger Question
The debate highlights an important challenge for modern education: How can schools introduce future-focused skills such as AI without reducing opportunities for language and cultural learning?
AI education can help students prepare for a technology-driven future, while language education plays an important role in communication, culture and community connections. The request from private school representatives is therefore for a balanced approach that allows students to benefit from both.
For Karnataka, the discussion now centres on whether AI and third-language education should be treated as competing choices—or whether students can be given an opportunity to learn both.
