Gwangju Schools to Voluntarily Choose AI Digital Textbooks

City Education Office Issues Official Notice... Selection to Be Made by End of This Month

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 7th that it had sent an official notice to elementary, middle, and high schools regarding the '2025 Academic Year AI Digital Textbook Voluntary Selection.'

Accordingly, each school will decide whether to use AI textbooks through consultation with its members. The target students are 3rd and 4th graders in elementary school, 1st graders in middle school, and 1st graders in high school, with the subjects being English, Mathematics, and Informatics.

A public notice sent by the Ministry of Education to all metropolitan and provincial offices of education nationwide on January 31.

Schools that choose to use AI textbooks must select the textbooks to be used through subject council meetings and school operation committee deliberations by the end of February.

The subscription fee for AI textbooks will be fully covered within the budget of the city education office, and any shortfall due to increased subscription fees will be supported by the Ministry of Education.

Previously, in December last year, the city education office held a physical exhibition of AI digital textbooks and supported teachers in reviewing the certified AI digital textbooks. In addition, AI textbook training was provided to 5,112 elementary, middle, and high school teachers last year.

In this regard, the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (JeonGyoJo) welcomed the change in the AI textbook guidelines from 'mandatory' selection to 'voluntary' selection.

JeonGyoJo stated, "This notice allowing schools to voluntarily select AI textbooks marks the beginning of correcting the educational deterioration caused by Yoon Sukyeol and Lee Jooho, and is an achievement made by the voices of citizens, teachers, and educational stakeholders gathered in the square," adding, "We urge the Ministry of Education and the city education office to carefully listen to opinions from the field and make prudent decisions and policies regarding the introduction of AI textbooks."