Operating 300 Digital Leading Schools... Classes with AI Programs

Ministry of Education Designates Pilot Education Offices for Digital Leading Schools
16 Education Offices Apply Except Ulsan... All Selected

The government plans to pilot AI-based curriculum programs (courseware) in 300 schools nationwide starting from the second semester of this year, ahead of the introduction of AI digital textbooks.

The Ministry of Education announced on the 10th that out of 17 education offices nationwide that applied for the digital-based education innovation pilot project, 16 applied, and all applicant education offices were selected as pilot education offices.

The pilot education offices will receive budget, consulting, and teacher training support from the Ministry of Education and will operate 300 digital leading schools from the second half of this year, freely utilizing AI courseware developed by private and public sectors to establish innovative teaching models.

Initially, the Ministry of Education planned to select about seven pilot education offices this year and expand the digital-based education innovation project to all 17 education offices nationwide next year, but the application results indicated that most education offices wish to transition to digital education as soon as possible.

Therefore, to support more education offices in making full preparations starting this year, the number of digital leading schools and special grant budgets were allocated differently by type, considering differences in capabilities and readiness by region.

Type 1 includes Gyeonggi, Gyeongbuk, Daegu, Seoul, Chungnam, and Chungbuk, each receiving 4 billion KRW to select 40 leading schools per education office. Sejong, also Type 1 but smaller in scale, will receive 1.5 billion KRW and operate 15 leading schools.

Type 2 includes Gangwon, Gyeongnam, Gwangju, Daejeon, Busan, Incheon, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeju, each receiving 500 million KRW and selecting and operating five leading schools.

Pilot education offices will designate leading schools independently by the end of this month and prepare for their operation by conducting teacher training during the summer vacation.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, explained, "Since all 17 education offices have shown a strong will to promote digital education innovation, the Ministry of Education and education offices will build a closer cooperative relationship and ensure systematic preparation in the field before the introduction of AI digital textbooks in March 2025."

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