Govt Makes Digital Safety, AI Courses Mandatory for Private Students in Islamabad

The federal government has made digital safety and artificial intelligence courses compulsory for private school and college students in Islamabad, starting from Class 9.

The directive, issued by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, aims to equip students with essential knowledge in modern AI and cybersecurity, preparing them for an increasingly digital academic and professional environment.

According to an official notification from ICT-PEIRA, all eligible students in the Islamabad Capital Territory must activate their training accounts through the government’s designated skills portal by March 8, 2026.

While enrollment and account activation are required immediately, authorities have allowed flexibility in completing the coursework. Students may finish the assigned modules during their upcoming summer vacations or after their final examinations, ensuring that regular academic activities remain unaffected.

Officials described the phased timeline as a strategic move to balance academic commitments with the broader goal of building digital capacity nationwide.

Private school administrations have been instructed to urgently facilitate the registration process, ensuring that all students from ninth grade onward are enrolled under the initiative. The measure is part of the government’s wider push to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and AI literacy among Pakistan’s youth.