Possibility of National Assembly Re-vote and Injunction After Lunar New Year
Ongoing Confusion Ahead of March Semester
Uncertainty Over AI Textbook Status
Subscription Fee Negotiations Still Unresolved
‘Textbook or educational material?’
As the uncertain status of AI digital textbooks drags on, the burden on schools to select new semester textbooks before the start of the school year is increasing. The government exercised its veto power against a bill that would lower the legal status of AI textbooks to educational materials, so for the time being, AI textbooks will retain their status as ‘textbooks.’ However, with a re-vote in the National Assembly and injunction requests expected next month, confusion may continue until 2 to 3 weeks before the start of the semester.
Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is speaking during a conversation with prospective teachers about AI digital textbooks at the "Together Tea Meeting" held on the 16th at TP Tower in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
According to the National Assembly’s Education Committee on the 22nd, the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that lowers the legal status of AI textbooks to educational materials is expected to be re-submitted for a vote in the National Assembly. This follows the day before when Choi Sang-mok, acting president, exercised his veto power against the amendment.
The problem is time. The Lunar New Year holiday begins on the 24th, so the re-vote is expected to take place in February. Opposition party education committee members are also considering filing an injunction to temporarily suspend the textbook status of AI textbooks. For the re-submitted amendment to pass, a majority of the total members (300) must be present, and at least two-thirds (200) of those present must vote in favor. The injunction request is a contingency plan in case the re-vote fails. An opposition education committee official said, "After the Lunar New Year holiday, we will take follow-up actions such as voting on the re-submitted amendment and filing injunction requests," adding, "We also need to examine constitutional issues."
Regardless of the outcome, confusion at schools ahead of the March semester is inevitable. There is a high possibility that schools will not be able to decide which teaching materials to use even with the semester just around the corner. If the re-vote passes or the court accepts the injunction request, AI textbooks will be classified as ‘educational materials’ rather than ‘textbooks,’ and education offices will not even be able to plan related budget expenditures.
Negotiations over AI textbook subscription fees have not yet been completed, so it is uncertain how much additional budget will be required. A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official said, "Subscription fees vary by publisher, ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 won," adding, "Since the unit price has not been finalized, additional budget may be needed." The Ministry of Education has proposed an annual subscription fee of 37,500 won per AI textbook per subject.
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