AI Textbook Nearing Final Selection Faces Ongoing 'Hasty Implementation' Controversy

Criticism from Education Sector Over Review Period and Side Effects
Teacher Groups Issue Successive Critical Statements
Parliament Calls for "Sufficient Social Discussion"
Lee Ju-ho: "Addiction Concerns Will Be Minimal"

Starting from March next year, the introduction of 'AI (Artificial Intelligence) Digital Textbooks' targeting 3rd and 4th graders in elementary school and 1st graders in middle and high school continues to spark controversy in the education sector. Parents, teacher organizations, and others express concerns that introducing AI textbooks without sufficient review could lead to issues such as a decline in students' literacy skills and digital addiction. There are also criticisms that the less than one-year period from textbook review to selection and implementation is a 'hasty introduction.'

"Only 3 months from review to evaluation" Concerns over hasty implementation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Education announced in June last year that it would promote the introduction of AI digital textbooks starting in 2025 to innovate digital education. According to the Ministry's roadmap, pilot education offices and digital leading schools were selected last year, and the announcement and review of AI digital textbook certification were completed by the first half of this year. In addition, the 'TOUCH Teacher Group' was selected to introduce digital textbooks and conduct digital education training. The Ministry announced that it would conduct a basic survey and main review in August to September, review revised versions in October to November, and publish the final acceptance notice in the official gazette on November 29.

However, as the introduction approaches next year, opposition continues within parts of the education community. Earlier in May, a petition titled 'Petition to Postpone the Ministry of Education's 2025 AI Digital Textbook Introduction' was submitted to the National Consent Petition system. The petition received a final agreement of 56,605 people, surpassing the 50,000 threshold within 30 days to be accepted as a national consent petition and was referred to the Education Committee in June.

Concerns about the timing of the introduction have also been raised within the education sector. The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) stated in a press release last month, "The review and revised version review periods are only about two months each," and urged, "The Ministry of Education should immediately halt the unrealistic plan to introduce AI digital textbooks in the first half of 2025 and conduct a full re-examination of the related project."

The KTU criticized, "Last year, the Ministry of Education announced a plan to promote AI digital textbooks, stating that both AI digital and printed textbooks would complete certification reviews by the end of August, but the schedule was delayed," adding, "The originally proposed six-month field suitability review period for AI digital textbooks was cut in half to three months," arguing that sufficient review could not be conducted.

The Seoul Teachers' Union also released the results of a survey conducted on September 9-10 targeting 1,794 teachers who had participated in at least one teacher capacity-building training session. The survey revealed that 94% of participating teachers opposed the full introduction of digital textbooks. Among them, 76% responded that digital-based classes do not help strengthen the competitiveness of public education, and 80% said that digital-based classes are not innovative teaching methods.

In a previous statement, the Seoul Teachers' Union pointed out, "The University of Valencia in Spain announced research results last December showing that digital reading does not improve reading comprehension as much as reading paper books," and added, "There is still no verified result on how education using AI digital textbooks affects students."

"Sufficient review needed" also in the National Assembly

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Last month, the National Assembly Legislative Research Office published a report titled 'The Legal Nature and Legislative Tasks of AI Digital Textbooks,' stating, "The policy to mandate the selection and supply of AI digital textbooks to all schools should carefully examine concerns about its impact on the overall publication of textbooks, including printed ones," and emphasized, "To secure educational discretion by respecting schools' selection rights, AI digital textbooks should be introduced as educational materials rather than textbooks, and long-term alternatives should be devised after sufficient social discussion to ensure smooth implementation in the field."

The Research Office also pointed out that the 'independent' selection method for AI digital textbooks promoted by the Ministry of Education raises questions about whether AI textbooks have been granted legal status as independent textbooks under the Presidential Decree 'Regulations on Textbooks.'

Jeong Eu-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, also announced last month through a statement that he would block the introduction due to concerns about digital device addiction and inadequate verification caused by digital textbooks.

On the 12th, questions regarding the introduction of AI digital textbooks continued during the National Assembly's government questioning session on education, social, and cultural affairs. In response to a question from Choi Hyung-doo, a member of the People Power Party, asking, "Could education through digital textbooks lead to immersion in games?" Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho replied, "There is almost no problem like the addiction you are concerned about," adding, "Using digital devices for learning is a very good means to equip digital competencies."