Goa's Digital Skills Initiative For Students, CARES, Sees Surge In Enrollment In 4 Years

Designed to introduce middle school students to digital-age skills, the program has grown from 5,825 students in 2022 to over 17,000 in 2025.

The program aims to bring coding and robotics into classrooms across the state.

Source : Special Arrangement

Goa’s flagship Coding and Robotics Education in Schools (CARES) initiative received strong participation, with student enrollments more than tripling in nearly four years.

 Designed to introduce middle school students to digital-age skills, the program has grown from 5,825 students in 2022 to over 17,000 in 2025. The program aims to bring coding and robotics into classrooms across the state.

Launched in 2021, CARES is among the first structured, large-scale coding education programs targeted at government schools in India. While there are small pilots or isolated programs run by other states, Goa  implemented a comprehensive, statewide initiative backed by policy support. The program aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by integrating technology into school education. Student enrollment in the program has grown over the years.

Year	Enrollments	No. of Schools
2022–23	5,825 students	61 schools
2023–24	8,004 students	110 schools
2024–25	10,562 students	161 schools
2025–26	17,000+ students	206 schools

Focus On Digital Skills And Reaching Students In Remote Corners

CM Pramod Sawant lauded the initiative and noted that real progress starts from the classroom. The programme was launched by the minister in 2021. "What began as a pioneering step in just 61 government & government aided schools has now grown into a statewide movement that is empowering thousands of students with digital skills once thought to be a privilege," the chief minister noted.

The curriculum is tailored for students in Classes 6 to 8 and begins with engaging activities such as visual storytelling and logic games. As students progress, they delve into actual coding and robotics challenges, building foundational skills in computational thinking and digital innovation.

One of the program’s standout features is the GOVIN platform, an offline-first solution developed to cater to students in remote or low-connectivity areas. This ensures equitable access to learning tools, allowing children from all regions to benefit from digital education.

Additionally, the initiative aims to build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking among students. By equipping them with the tools to understand and shape the world around them, the program intends to build a generation that is not just tech-savvy but also future-ready.