Step-by-Step Introduction of 'Artificial Intelligence Education' from Kindergarten to Elementary, Middle, and High School

Development of Kindergarten Learning Materials from Next Year
Full Implementation of 2022 Revised Curriculum
AI Education Standards to Be Established by Year-End
Elective High School Courses to Open in Second Semester Next Year

The educational content of 'Artificial Intelligence Education' to be introduced through the 2022 revised curriculum includes programming, basic principles of artificial intelligence, AI applications, and AI ethics. (Provided by the Ministry of Education)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Artificial intelligence (AI) education, which had remained in the pilot stage, will be gradually introduced in kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Education announced that it held the 19th Social Relations Ministers' Meeting and Human Investment Talent Development Council at the Government Seoul Office to discuss the agenda "Educational Policy Directions and Key Tasks in the AI Era."

Starting next year, learning materials for AI education through play will be developed for kindergartens. The main content involves experiencing AI through activities such as "Playing with Artificial Intelligence" and "Gathering Opinions with Friends."

AI education will be fully introduced in the 2022 revised curriculum, which will be applied from 2025. Basically, elementary and middle schools will strengthen basic literacy and principle education in related subjects, while high schools will offer various elective courses to provide opportunities for in-depth learning. The educational content will include programming, basic AI principles, AI applications, and AI ethics.

To this end, an AI education standard guideline by school level for elementary, middle, and high schools will be prepared by the end of the year. While expanding the class hours for AI subjects or related subjects already established by school principals, at the high school level, "Basic Artificial Intelligence" and "Artificial Intelligence Mathematics" courses will be offered from the second semester of next year to allow interested students to explore aptitudes and career paths in the AI field.

The government will also develop AI cultivation indicators to review the outcomes of related policies promoted by ministries and universities and propose progressive policies. At the university undergraduate level, it plans to review the implementation of policies including programs for master's and doctoral researchers as well as re-education and training programs for working professionals.

The "Education Big Data Committee," chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, will also be launched next year. This decision-making body will focus on social consensus regarding the use and security of data in the education sector and will work on policy development by linking various data such as guidelines.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.