Kerala's General Education Department is taking another step towards strengthening technology-enabled education through the introduction of Educational Technology Clubs (ET Clubs) in schools. The initiative is being implemented through the State Institute of Educational Technology (SIET) under the General Education Department, Government of Kerala.
The initiative focuses on providing students with opportunities to explore emerging technologies and develop practical skills beyond conventional classroom learning. The official ET Club Manual 2026–27 provides detailed guidelines for the formation, functioning and coordination of ET Clubs at school, educational district and state levels.
The complete manual issued by SIET Kerala is available for download below.
⬇ Download ET Club Manual 2026–27 PDF
What are Educational Technology Clubs?
Educational Technology Clubs are designed to create a platform where students can explore, experiment and develop skills related to modern educational technologies. The programme gives importance to practical learning, innovation, problem solving, creativity and teamwork.
According to the official manual, the programme covers areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), robotics and other emerging technologies. It also aims to identify and address learning difficulties or "hard spots" through appropriate technological interventions.
Major Objectives of ET Clubs
- Provide students with practical exposure to emerging technologies.
- Encourage creativity, innovation and technology-based problem solving.
- Develop technical aptitude and practical skills among students.
- Promote teamwork, communication and collaborative learning.
- Introduce students to technologies such as AI and AR/VR.
- Support technology-enabled learning across different school levels.
- Provide opportunities for students to undertake practical tasks and projects.
The manual also emphasises the use of technology to support teaching and learning and to identify areas where students require additional support.
Student Selection for ET Clubs
The ET Club manual specifies a set of criteria for identifying students. Selection is not limited to academic performance alone. The programme considers different abilities and interests of students.
Important areas considered include:
- Technical Aptitude – interest and aptitude in technology and digital tools.
- Skill Assessment – practical skills and the ability to perform technology-related tasks.
- Creativity & Innovation – ability to generate new ideas and approaches.
- Problem Solving & Curiosity – interest in exploring problems and finding solutions.
- Communication & Team Work – ability to work and communicate effectively with others.
The manual also refers to aptitude tests, skill tests/practical tasks and other methods that can be used for student assessment.
School-Level ET Club Structure
At the school level, an ET Club School Coordination Committee is proposed to coordinate the activities. The manual provides a framework involving school authorities and representatives from different educational levels.
The school-level structure is intended to provide coordination for ET Club activities, student selection, training and technology-related programmes.
Educational District and State-Level Coordination
The programme is organised through multiple levels of coordination. In addition to school-level committees, the manual describes Educational District Level Committees and a State Level coordination mechanism.
The district-level structure includes representatives from different educational sections, while the state-level framework focuses on policy formulation, strategic guidance, curriculum integration, inter-departmental coordination, resource allocation and evaluation.
Integration of ET and Artificial Intelligence
One of the notable features of the programme is the proposed integration of Educational Technology with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The state-level framework specifically includes Curriculum Integration with ET & AI. The manual also refers to coordination with organisations such as CIET-NCERT and SCERT for curriculum-related activities.
Why ET Clubs Matter for Students
Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of education and everyday life. ET Clubs can provide students with opportunities to move from simply using technology to understanding, experimenting with and creating technology-based solutions.
Through practical activities, students can develop skills in coding, digital technology, problem solving, innovation, communication and teamwork. The emphasis on practical learning can also help students connect classroom concepts with real-world applications.
Implementation of ET Clubs
The official SIET document also includes an implementation schedule beginning in September 2026 and continuing through October 2026, covering orientation, coordination and school-level activities.
A New Platform for Technology Learning
Educational Technology Clubs can provide Kerala school students with a structured platform to explore emerging technologies while developing creativity, curiosity and practical problem-solving skills. The initiative also creates a framework for coordinating technology-related educational activities from the school level to the state level.
The introduction of AI, AR/VR and other emerging technologies into structured student activities represents an important expansion of technology-oriented learning opportunities in schools.
