Ulsan Office of Education issued a statement on the 26th regarding the proposal on AI digital textbooks announced by the National Council of Superintendents of Education on the 24th.
The core of the recently announced proposal is that "the bill defining AI digital textbooks as educational materials should be put on hold."
However, Ulsan Office of Education stated that this position was announced under the leadership of Superintendent Eunhee Kang of Daegu without the consensus of the superintendents, and therefore cannot be considered the official stance of the Council of Superintendents.
The Council of Superintendents stipulates that to enhance the credibility of statements issued under its name and to avoid misunderstandings, any announcement under the name of the National Council of Superintendents of Education must receive approval from at least two-thirds (12 members) of the superintendents.
If the two-thirds approval is not obtained, individual offices of education may announce positions under the name of their respective superintendents based on their own judgment.
According to Ulsan Office of Education, the proposal related to AI digital textbooks did not meet these requirements. At least six superintendents have clearly expressed opposition to the content of the proposal, and some superintendents raised concerns about the method of collecting opinions itself.
Regarding the full introduction of AI digital textbooks, many superintendents, regardless of conservative or progressive views, have expressed concerns for a long time and have officially requested the Ministry of Education for phased introduction and adjustment of the pace.
Ulsan Office of Education expressed that it cannot understand the reason for hastily issuing the proposal in violation of regulations without going through the consent process of the majority of superintendents.
The Ministry of Education, as the passage of the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act defining AI digital textbooks as educational materials rather than textbooks approached, proposed postponing the full-scale application in the field by one year on the condition of deferring the bill's passage.
In response, Ulsan Office of Education views this as the Ministry of Education itself acknowledging that the full introduction was pushed forward recklessly without verification and measures to address side effects.
Regarding the status of AI digital textbooks, there were criticisms that it violated the Constitution, which stipulates that "essential matters concerning education shall be determined by law." The National Assembly Legislative Research Office also pointed out that the legal basis for introduction is unclear and suggested that it is preferable to introduce them as "educational materials" rather than "textbooks."
Ulsan Office of Education conveyed that the proposal issued under the name of the Council of Superintendents, which accepted the Ministry of Education's reversed position after the policy, pushed unilaterally without sufficient public discussion, was halted by the National Assembly, is not only ineffective but also does not reflect the opinions of the educational field at all.
They also urged Superintendent Eunhee Kang to provide an explanation and a prompt apology regarding the unilaterally announced proposal.
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