IIT Madras outreach pulls 1.10 lakh schoolgirls, girls now 49% of enrolments

By TUF News Desk · Published 21 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

About 1.10 lakh schoolgirls have signed up for the Indian Institute of Technology Madras School Connect programme, and the institute says girls’ participation now nearly matches the boys’. Girls account for 49% of total enrolments, while boys make up 51%.

The programme has recorded 2,23,721 student enrolments since its launch in August 2024. It introduces students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics along with other academic fields, and is run through the institute’s Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE). The point, according to IIT Madras, is to help students explore subjects before they have to commit to a stream or a university course.

What the programme offers

School Connect runs eight-week online courses that sit outside the regular school curriculum. The catalogue spans 17 future-focused disciplines, including artificial intelligence, data science, aerospace, cybersecurity, design and economics. Sessions include lectures, live classes, assignments and assessments, and students who complete the requirements receive an e-certificate from IIT Madras CODE.

Courses are currently offered in English and Hindi. The institute is developing modules in seven additional Indian languages to reach students from more educational backgrounds.

The October 2026 cohort is open for applications, and for the first time students from Class IX can join alongside those in Classes X, XI and XII. The expansion means students get to sample disciplines before they pick their streams for Classes XI and XII, which is when most families start locking in career paths.

6,406 schools so far, 25,000 the goal

IIT Madras reports that 6,406 schools have partnered with the programme to date. The institute wants to take that number to 25,000 schools across the country in the coming years.

Schools and students can find programme details and the application route on the official School Connect page run by IIT Madras CODE. Students weighing what to do after school can also read our guide on how to choose a university in India, which covers how to judge options beyond rankings.

Frequently asked questions

What is the IIT Madras School Connect programme?

An outreach initiative by IIT Madras that introduces school students in Classes IX to XII to STEM and other academic disciplines through eight-week online courses run by the Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE).

Who can apply for the October 2026 School Connect cohort?

Students studying in Classes IX, X, XI and XII. Class IX students have been included for the first time in the October 2026 cohort.

What courses does School Connect offer?

Seventeen future-focused fields, including artificial intelligence, data science, aerospace, cybersecurity, design and economics. Courses run in English and Hindi, with modules in seven more Indian languages under development.

How many schools does the programme cover?

IIT Madras reports 6,406 schools partnered so far, and aims to extend the programme to 25,000 schools across the country in the coming years.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Indian Express, Jagran Josh, Education Post