The federal government has made digital safety and AI courses mandatory for private school and college students in Islamabad from Class 9 and above.
What the New Digital Safety Order Requires
The federal government has made digital safety and artificial intelligence (AI) training compulsory for private school and college students in Islamabad from Class 9 onward. The move is part of a wider push to equip the next generation with practical skills in modern AI tools and cybersecurity, as daily life, learning, and work become increasingly digital-first.
According to the latest directive issued by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (ICT-PEIRA), all eligible students must be enrolled in official digital safety and AI courses. The requirement applies to students studying in private schools and colleges within the Islamabad Capital Territory from ninth grade upwards.
Under the order, each student is required to have a training account activated on the government’s designated skills portal. This account will serve as the primary gateway for accessing course content, completing online modules, and tracking progress. The government has set 8 March 2026 as the deadline for activating these training accounts.
Why Digital Safety and AI Training Matters
Officials say the new policy is designed to prepare young Pakistanis for both the opportunities and the risks of living in a digital age. On one hand, AI tools are transforming how students research, communicate, and solve problems. On the other, growing online threats such as hacking, phishing, cyberbullying, and data theft mean that students must know how to protect themselves and use technology responsibly.
By making digital safety and AI literacy mandatory, the government wants to build a baseline of knowledge that every student should have, regardless of their future career path. Understanding how algorithms work, how personal data can be misused, and how to maintain secure digital identities is increasingly seen as a basic life skill, much like reading or mathematics.
Flexible Timeline for Completing the Courses
While the account activation deadline has been set for early March, the government has allowed flexibility in when students actually complete the course content. The Ministry has indicated that students may finish the assigned modules during their upcoming summer vacations or after the conclusion of their final examinations.
This approach is meant to ensure that the new requirement does not disrupt the ongoing academic schedule, especially for board classes already under exam pressure. Instead, the training is being built into quieter periods of the school calendar, giving students enough time to focus on the material and apply it in a meaningful way.
Role of Schools in Implementing the Policy
Private school and college administrations in Islamabad have been instructed to facilitate the enrolment process without delay. This includes guiding students on how to create and activate their training accounts, keeping records of registrations, and ensuring that all eligible students are covered by the deadline.
Schools are also expected to coordinate with parents and guardians, especially for younger students who may need help accessing the portal from home. Some institutions may choose to schedule dedicated computer lab sessions or counselling periods to introduce the course, explain its importance, and help students navigate the online platform.
Building a Digitally Secure Student Community
The government’s latest step is part of a broader agenda to expand digital capacity across Pakistan. By starting with school and college students, policymakers hope to create a generation that is not only comfortable with technology but also alert to its risks. A more digitally aware student body is expected to reduce cases of online exploitation, misinformation, and unsafe behaviour on social media.
In the long term, officials believe that early exposure to AI concepts and cybersecurity practices will strengthen the country’s talent pipeline for future jobs in technology, data, and digital services. For now, the immediate focus is on ensuring that every Class 9 and above student in Islamabad’s private institutions is registered on the skills portal and ready to begin their mandatory digital safety journey.
