SEOUL – Just three months before the start of the new school year in March 2025, the South Korean government announced on November 29 that it would unexpectedly scale back its plan to introduce AI-powered digital textbooks into classrooms, adjusting the pace and delaying the rollout of some. topics.

As part of the plan, the digital conversion of paper-based books for mathematics, English and informatics courses for third and fourth graders, seventh graders and high school freshmen will continue as planned.

However, the implementation of artificial intelligence-supported digital textbooks for social studies and science will be postponed for a year. These will be implemented in classrooms in 2027, not 2026. Additionally, Korean language and technology and home economics textbooks will not be part of the transformation.

English and IT and communication textbooks for students with disabilities will also not be converted. Artificial intelligence-supported digital textbooks for Korean language and mathematics will be developed in special education for primary, secondary and high school students.

The decision comes a year after the Ministry of Education announced that it would introduce AI-powered digital textbooks in June 2023 to reshape the way students learn; which still places great emphasis on memorizing textbooks.

Educators and parents has consistently expressed strong concerns Many people worry about students’ increasing over-reliance on digital devices, declining literacy, and the importance of teacher-student interactions in self-expression.

Immediately following the announcement on November 29, the professional association of the Federation of Korean Teachers’ Associations issued a statement calling for the creation of an environment that would make it easier for teachers to integrate and use digital textbooks.

Amid growing concerns, the ministry underlined that AI-powered features will provide students with personalized learning experiences and help close achievement gaps in classrooms, where students who take the best courses outside of school at private academies excel.

The Ministry said that digital textbooks will also provide different learning materials with which academically advanced students can carry out more challenging studies, and those who are in difficulty can get extra support from artificial intelligence instructors.

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho shrugged off concerns about the plan, saying the AI ​​digital textbooks aim to increase classroom engagement and help students understand concepts more easily.

“Teachers can better understand their students’ learning abilities and encourage active learning by offering more dynamic lessons, such as lessons that require active discussions or teaming up with peers,” Lee told reporters at a Nov. 29 press conference.

“Unlike gadgets for entertainment purposes such as social media, AI digital textbooks are used for educational purposes and aim to increase student engagement in class. (The government) also plans to enhance digital citizenship education so that students can use digital technologies responsibly and productively,” according to Mr Lee.

For example, when asked about the benefits of the artificial intelligence plan, Mr. Lee said that artificial intelligence textbooks will provide students with personalized feedback about their speaking and writing skills during English lessons and make classroom management easier and more efficient for teachers.

When it comes to mathematics, AI textbooks will allow students to better understand the mathematical theories and concepts they have difficulty with, instead of requiring them to memorize mathematical formulas and solve questions over and over again, and will present extra problems for students to better grasp the subject. To Mr Lee.