SCERT Maharashtra AI Saathi Course: Education Department Major Action to Launch AI Training

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Maharashtra, and the Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) have jointly launched a new online training program for teachers titled 'AI Saathi for Educators.' The primary objective of this course is to assist teachers in effectively utilising modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the classroom.

This is the first virtual course introduced under the Maharashtra Education Department's online training policy that has been made mandatory for approximately 7.5 lakh teachers and education department officials.

'AI Saathi for Educators' is an online training course developed through a joint initiative by SCERT Maharashtra and the Kotak Education Foundation. It aims to assist teachers in delivering more modern and effective instruction by utilising various AI-based tools and technologies.

The course will be available on the DIKSHA platform, allowing teachers to complete it at their own convenience through videos, study materials, and online assessments.

This training has been made mandatory for approximately 7.5 lakh teachers, education department officials, and staff involved in teaching from Class 1 to Class 12 in Maharashtra. The course is approved as a 4-hour certified training program, forming part of the state's mandatory 20-hour online professional development action.

A famous feature of the AI ​​Saathi course is that it has been developed entirely in Marathi. Teachers can complete the course at their own pace. Instruction will be delivered through videos, reading materials, and assessments, while participation and progress in the course will be monitored via the SCERT online dashboard.

Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh stated that this course would assist all teachers and education department officials in Maharashtra with their daily teaching activities. Dr. Hemant Bhasekar, Director of SCERT, remarked that technology is becoming an essential part of education and that this training would make teachers more skilled and confident.

Ganesh Raja, CEO of the Kotak Education Foundation, explained that the objective of this action is not to replace teachers with AI, but rather to further strengthen their skills.

The Kotak Education Foundation has been working in the education sector for the past 19 years. They have been conducting teacher training programs since 2023 and organised multiple webinars in 2024–25 on AI-based lesson planning, assessment, and the responsible use of technology.

Building on this experience, the state-wide 'AI Saathi' program was developed in collaboration with SCERT Maharashtra.