[Opinion] Innovation in Public Education Using AI: Future Scenarios and Solutions

Introduction of Personalized AI Digital Textbooks
Most Students Improve Grades Without Private Tutoring
Abolition of College Entrance System Based on CSAT Scores Inevitable

Behind the growth and development of our society lie accumulated social challenges. Low birth rates, aging population, private education expenses, polarization, and regional crises are representative examples. None of these seem easy to solve. We have painfully experienced that the problems cannot be solved by the conventional methods. A new approach is needed.

Take education as an example. Nothing is more important for the future than education, and few challenges are as difficult to solve as education issues. There are two major problems in education. One is that education does not meet the demands of the times, and the other is that private education expenses are overwhelmingly high. I believe the government's proposed solution direction of actively utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in education is correct. But can AI really solve education problems? Let's consider a possible future scenario.

According to the government plan, from 2025, AI digital textbooks will be introduced in subjects such as mathematics, English, and information technology. Using AI, customized education tailored to each student's level will be provided. Thanks to this, almost all students will understand the content of these subjects well. Sequentially, AI digital textbooks will be introduced in social studies, science, and Korean language subjects, and the same effect is expected.

Will private education expenses really decrease as a result? If the purpose of private education was merely to understand the curriculum subjects, then private education expenses would decrease. However, the reason parents have their children attend private education goes beyond that. Beyond understanding the curriculum, the real reason for private education is to achieve higher grades than other students and enter better universities.

Let's think concretely about the expected effects of AI utilization. Thanks to AI digital textbooks, most students' grades will improve. As a result, the grade differences among students in the subjects will almost disappear. For example, in exams, over 90% of students are likely to score above 95 points. The grade variance among students, which used to be widely spread from 50 to 100 points, will be significantly reduced thanks to AI.

In this case, two future scenarios are expected. First, parents still spend private education expenses to get their children a slightly better university by achieving a score of 95.1, just 0.1 points higher than 95. Second, parents are satisfied if their children score 95 in all subjects thanks to AI and do not spend more on private education.

Which scenario will become reality? If, as now, even 0.1 points higher guarantees admission to a better university, private education expenses will not decrease in the future. But let's think logically. Isn't choosing the first scenario extremely abnormal? It is rational for all parents to choose the second scenario. Because in the upcoming AI era, the knowledge competencies asked in current university admissions will not be that important, and a score of about 95 will be sufficient. Beyond knowledge, it is more important to have thinking skills, questioning ability, creativity, empathy, problem-solving skills, and resilience.

Then, along with the introduction of AI digital textbooks, another task for the government becomes clear. It is to completely revise the current university admission system that ranks students in a line based on their CSAT scores. Personalized AI digital textbooks should be definitely introduced, and at the same time, the university admission system based on CSAT scores should be definitely abolished. That is the best way to innovate our education in line with the changes of the times and significantly reduce private education expenses.

Kim Hyungon, Director of the National Assembly Future Institute

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