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The South Korean Ministry of Education announced that it will introduce digital textbooks based on artificial intelligence (AI) in the country's elementary and middle schools from 2025, aiming to diversify students' learning programs.
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| Students use tablets in an elementary school classroom in Seoul, South Korea. |
The news comes as the Korean Ministry of Education identifies AI digital textbooks as part of the government’s education innovation program through metaverse and interactive AI technologies. The use of digital textbooks is also expected to facilitate customized learning for students at different learning levels.
Accordingly, primary school students in grades 3 and 4, and grade 10 students will be the first to benefit from digitally customized textbooks for Maths, English and IT from 2025.
Next, by 2026, digital textbooks will be provided to fifth and sixth graders in elementary schools and eighth graders in middle schools. Meanwhile, four other subjects, namely Korean, Social Studies, Science and Technology, and Home Economics, will also undergo digital transformation. By 2027, ninth graders will receive digital textbooks. Digital textbooks will be applied to all subjects from 2028, except for activity-based subjects such as Music, Art, Physical Education, and Ethics. First and second graders in elementary schools cannot use digital textbooks yet because they are considered too young to be exposed to such electronic devices.
According to the Korean Ministry of Education, the AI digital textbooks can suggest basic learning tasks such as understanding basic concepts for “slow learners” and in-depth learning tasks such as discussions and essay writing suggestions for “fast learners.” The agency also emphasized that digital textbooks and paper textbooks will be used in parallel until all students, parents, and teachers can master the AI digital textbooks and achieve the desired educational effect.
Also according to the education innovation plan, this year, 300 schools across Korea are expected to pilot the AI-based curriculum. This pilot curriculum is applied nationwide and 16 out of 17 local education offices have registered to participate. These units will be supported by the Ministry of Education in terms of budget, consulting, and teachers to implement teaching from the second half of this year.
The digital pioneer schools will play a role in building a model for classroom innovation, freely applying AI educational software developed by the private and public sectors. Previously, according to the original plan, the Korean Ministry of Education planned to select 7 pilot education departments in 2023, then expand to all 17 provincial and municipal education departments across the country in 2024. However, since most local education departments registered for the pilot, the ministry decided to support these education departments to implement the above program from this year.
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