'Strengthening Support for Digital Education Innovation' Announcement
Training 34,000 Lead Teachers by 2025
Providing Customized Training Considering Digital Competency Gaps
Supporting Performance Rewards Including Overseas Training
The Ministry of Education will invest 381.8 billion KRW this year to promote 'Edutech,' which integrates digital education into public education. Over the next three years, it plans to train about 30,000 lead teachers and provide customized training for all teachers.
Naju-beom, Deputy Minister of Education, announced this on the 15th at a briefing on the "Support Plan to Strengthen Digital-Based Educational Innovation Capabilities" held at the Government Seoul Office. Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, said at a prior briefing on the 9th, "Success does not come from digital textbooks alone; a strategy to strengthen teachers' digital capabilities is necessary," adding, "It is called a revolution when change occurs not only in a few schools but in all teachers and classrooms."
Earlier, in September last year, the Ministry of Education announced the "Edutech Promotion Plan" and stated it would conduct training to enhance teachers' digital capabilities. It also set a goal to introduce "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Textbooks" by 2025.
Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is making an announcement on the allocation of 2,000 medical school quotas on the 20th at the Joint Briefing Room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
On this day, the Ministry explained that it is essential for teachers, as experts in instruction, to understand the direction of the digital transformation and attempt instructional innovation. To this end, it plans to train up to 34,000 "Classroom Revolution Lead Teachers" by 2026, securing 2 to 3 lead teachers per school. The plan is to train 11,500 teachers each in this year and next year, and 11,000 teachers in 2026.
Additionally, customized training will be provided considering teachers' differences in digital capabilities, preferences, and characteristics. Teachers will assess their own capabilities and receive recommended tailored training. Based on their training history, they will receive digital certification (badges). Training will target all teachers, but this year it will prioritize 150,000 elementary school teachers who will use digital textbooks in 2025, as well as teachers of mathematics, English, and information subjects.
To ensure this education becomes embedded in school culture, starting with 3,000 schools this year, on-site training will be provided to a total of 12,000 elementary, middle, and high schools over three years. Professional counseling support will be available to address difficulties teachers and schools face during instructional innovation.
To prevent increased workload for teachers, 800 million KRW will be separately allocated for Edutech development. To alleviate teachers' burden of managing digital devices, 1,200 digital tutors will be trained this year, and pilot operations of regional technical support centers will be conducted in all metropolitan and provincial education offices. Furthermore, a "Plan to Reduce and Streamline School Administrative Tasks" will be established this year to allow teachers to focus on educational activities.
A new "Teacher of the Year for Instructional Innovation Award" will be established to recognize 100 outstanding teachers leading digital-based instruction and assessment innovation, with rewards including overseas advanced education experience training and other performance incentives for excellent awardees.
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