Beyond the Bench: Bhadrak's First AI Innovation & Skilling Hubs in Rural Odisha
One Future Foundation, in partnership with the Bhadrak District Administration, organized a one-day workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for key officials, including District and Block level authorities, and school Principals and Headmasters from selected schools, including PM Shri Schools and Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas, across the district. The event took place on June 17, 2026, at the Zilla Parishad Conference Hall in Bhadrak.
At the opening of the workshop, Sarada Prasad Panda, the Chief Advisor of the Foundation, posed an intriguing question: "Why should government and local school students in our districts be any different from students in Delhi, London, or New York?" This question challenges the current situation. For a long time, there has been a digital gap between elite urban institutions and public schools in the region.
To ensure fair opportunities, One Future Foundation has begun setting up AI Innovation and Skilling Hubs in selected government schools across Bhadrak district. This initiative is supported by the district leadership, including Bhadrak MP Avimanyu Sethi, MLA Sitansu Sekhar Mohapatra, and District Collector Dilip Routrai. The foundation's efforts will help implement both the Odisha AI Policy 2025 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Inside the Hub: Going Beyond the Traditional Classroom
These Hubs provide learning experiences tailored to the ages of the students. The age groups are divided as follows:
- Grades 3 - 5: Focusing on developing basic logic and introductory computational thinking skills.
- Grades 6 - 7: Introducing algorithmic logic and foundational concepts of AI.
- Grade 8: Learning real-world coding, basic data concepts, and core AI principles.
- Grade 9: Engaging in hands-on machine learning projects with real-world applications.
Empowering Students: From Consumers to Innovators
AI literacy is quickly becoming essential for employability in India. By 2030, it will be a fundamental requirement for the global workforce. The Hubs use hands-on, no-code learning to make data logic, computational thinking, and AI accessible to young learners. Through designing tech-based solutions for real-world problems, students gain confidence, creativity, and the digital skills needed for the future.
Upskilling Teachers: Building Sustainable Classrooms
The project is also focused on training local teachers and administrators through various initiatives:
- Continuous Professional Development: Teachers receive ongoing training in modern digital tools and effective teaching methodologies.
- Education Leadership Capacity Building: Block Education Officers (BEOs) and school principals are trained strategically to ensure strong monitoring and support within institutions.
- Institutional Ownership: Technical training empowers local school systems to scale, adapt, and sustain the program independently.
The Road Ahead
One Future Foundation is committed to ensuring these Hubs benefit the entire district, not just a few schools. True change requires leadership that serves the community, not just new technology. Therefore, the District Collector has urged Block Education Officers and school principals to be at the forefront of this transformation, highlighting that their vision and daily guidance will be what brings this initiative to life.
This program will launch in July at PM Shri B. M. Bagurai High School in Naripur, Bhadrak, and will later expand to all Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas in the district. Through a collaborative framework, One Future Foundation aims to establish sustainable institutional ownership, allowing local school communities to manage and thrive within this ecosystem over the long term.
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