Lee Ju-ho "Plan to Prepare AI Digital Textbook Curriculum Adjustment Proposal After 2026"

Provincial Education Superintendents "Need to Slow Down" Official Letter
Deputy Prime Minister at National Audit: "Not Refining It"

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, hinted at the possibility of adjusting the subjects for the introduction of AI digital textbooks after 2026 in response to concerns from education superintendents nationwide.

On the 24th, during the National Assembly Education Committee's audit, in response to a question from Kim Dae-sik, a member of the People Power Party, regarding concerns from provincial education superintendents about the AI digital textbooks to be introduced next year, Lee said, "For the AI digital textbooks subjects after 2026, we will prepare adjustment plans through expert review and consultations with provincial education offices."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Education plans to introduce AI digital textbooks starting next year for 3rd and 4th graders in elementary school, 1st-year middle school students, and 1st-year high school students in subjects such as English, Mathematics, Information, and Korean (special education). The rollout will gradually expand to 5th and 6th graders in elementary school and 2nd-year middle school students in 2026, and to 3rd-year middle school students in 2027. The applicable subjects will also increase step-by-step, including Korean, Social Studies, Science, Technology & Home Economics in 2026; History in 2027; and common high school subjects such as Korean, Integrated Social Studies, Korean History, and Integrated Science in 2028.

In response, the National Council of Provincial Education Superintendents sent an official letter to the Ministry of Education on the 16th, recommending a "speed adjustment." The council proposed ▲ sustainable budget support such as special education funds ▲ high-quality teacher training utilizing the developed AI digital textbooks ▲ adjustment of the number of applicable subjects after 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister Lee explained, "There are many proposals regarding adjusting the number of subjects or the method of introduction of AI digital textbooks after 2026, and there are quite reasonable suggestions, so we are keeping an open mind and refining the plans."

He also emphasized, "We will provide sufficient information about AI digital textbooks and make greater efforts to communicate with the field to alleviate concerns from teachers and parents," adding, "For stable introduction, we will carefully examine financial support, personal information protection, and teacher training."

The plan to apply and introduce the textbooks next year remains unchanged. Deputy Prime Minister Lee stated, "The publishers for English, Mathematics, and Information AI digital textbooks in 2025 will be finalized by the end of November through the certification and approval system, so changes are not possible," and added, "The effectiveness of digital textbooks in English, Mathematics, and Information has already been widely verified worldwide, so I am confident that they can be applied smoothly next year."

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