Starting this September, first-grade students in the Moscow region will have a new subject on their timetables: a 'Cyberlesson' focused on digital security and artificial intelligence. Governor Andrey Vorobyov announced the pilot program, which will initially involve 200 schools across 40 municipalities.

"The modern world sets its own rules," Vorobyov stated, according to a regional government press release. "We understand that digital literacy and working with AI need to be taught from an early age." Teacher training for the new curriculum is scheduled to begin in April.

The initiative coincides with the broader rollout of an AI-powered grading assistant for educators. This tool, which analyzes handwritten work, flags errors, and suggests grades, is reported to cut grading time by roughly sixfold. After a pilot phase in five districts, the system is expected to expand to all schools in the region by September.

Officials note that over 4,000 teachers in the region are already using a separate generative AI 'Teaching Assistant' to develop lesson plans and teaching materials, saving an estimated 10 to 12 hours per month. The moves represent a significant shift toward embedding AI tools directly into the foundational years of public education.

Source: RIA Novosti