Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan announced in the Assembly on Monday (August 24, 2026) the introduction of TN-Analytical thinking, Reasoning, Innovation, Venture and entrepreneurship, Upskilling (ARIVU) with artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technology curriculum by the State government from the academic year 2027-28.

This new curriculum will be based on a development framework called ARIVU Foundation for Classes I-V, ARIVU Discovery for Classes VI-VIII, ARIVU Edge for Classes IX-XII. This will provide a strong foundation at the elementary-school level, a deeper understanding at the middle-school level, and life, employability, and future skills at the high-school level. Presenting the Demand for Grants for his department, he announced a total of 31 initiatives under the department with AI and sports taking centre stage, with a total estimated outlay of ₹44,527 crore.

Mr. Rajmohan said the competency-based Mathichudar Scheme assessment would also be implemented in 2026-27 at ₹18.01 crore to improve the conceptual understanding of students in Class VI-XII. Vetripathai Scheme will be implemented to provide quality coaching, mock tests, and continuous educational guidance to students studying at 172 government higher secondary schools to prepare for national-level entrance examinations. The scheme will be implemented with a financial allocation of ₹22.36 crore. Paying attention to government school students’ health, dental, eye, and ear health check-ups will be launched in partnership with government and private hospitals.

School students in Tamil Nadu will now get a period dedicated to sports, arts, and other co-curricular activities every day under the PLAY initiative, the Minister said. A total of 50 government high and higher secondary schools will be developed as ‘Sports Plus’ schools for nurturing young sporting talent with sports infrastructure, expert coaching, and pathways to State, National and International competitions at a cost of ₹2.34 crore, he said.

Coaching for chess and traditional games will be introduced across 6,980 government middle schools for students of Classes I to VIII at a cost of ₹20.17 lakh. “Sports uniforms will be provided to 23.4 lakh students in Classes IX to XII at government and government-aided schools in the next academic year at a cost of ₹81.89 crore,” he said.

Funding for Tamil Chair

Mr. Rajmohan also announced that additional financial assistance of ₹5.75 crore would be given to set up Tamil Chair at the University of Houston in the U.S.

He said two Tamil scholars, who are promoting the Tamil language online, would be given a cash award of ₹25,000 and the ‘Inaiya Tamil Chemmal’ award. Besides, works of Tamil scholars — K. Jeevabharathi, Raj Gowthaman, Saranabaskaran alias T.M.M. Ahmed, S. Kandasamy, and T.M. Peer Mohammed — would be nationalised at a cost of ₹50.75 lakh a year. Students of Tamil University will be upskilled through training programmes, with national and international conferences being held annually. Books that would be helpful to conduct research would be procured for students studying in Tamil university, the Minister said.

Mr. Rajmohan also announced that a manimandapam would be constructed for late renowned filmmaker Bharathirajaa.