"Closing the educational gap with AI textbooks"...the crisis of deprivation of textbook status

[Anchor]
The Ministry of Education will introduce artificial intelligence (AI) digital textbooks to classes starting next year, saying it will provide customized education for students without so-called "surprisers" and "surprisers."

I've also confirmed the textbooks that have passed the verification.

However, a bill to deprive the National Assembly of textbook status is being pursued, and opposition voices are not dying down, so it is expected to be difficult until the actual introduction.

This is reporter Lee Moon-seok.

[Reporter]
76 artificial intelligence (AI) textbooks to be introduced in March next year have been confirmed.

Like general book textbooks, each school will be selected and used for class from the first semester of next year.

However, fewer introductory subjects will be introduced than originally planned, and the speed of introduction will be adjusted.

Korean language was excluded due to concerns about restricting expression activities, and technology and home were excluded because they were activity-oriented subjects.

In addition, the government has decided to postpone the introduction of social studies and science by one year to 27th grade in order to settle AI textbooks.

Education authorities said they will complete the training of 150,000 teachers by this winter vacation and deploy 1,200 applicants to schools to prepare for classes without a hitch.

[Lee Ju-ho / Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education: When customized education is realized through AI digital textbooks, students with less basic education can develop the necessary competencies without giving up their studies, ensuring fair educational opportunities].]

However, AI textbooks are on the verge of being deprived of their textbook status even before they are introduced.

The opposition party is pushing for a law revision to lower the status of AI textbooks to educational materials, so if it passes the plenary session, the plan to introduce it will be virtually eliminated.

[Kim Young-ho / Chairman of the National Assembly Board of Education (Democratic Party of Korea, 28th of last month): First of all, you need to check the intentions of students and teachers on promoting AI digital textbooks and policies. It's about how to go unilaterally without that premise.]

There are still many homework to be solved, such as administrative expenses such as subscription fees, which are expected to cost trillions of dollars, and problems that need to be combined with book textbooks.

More than 120 civil and social organizations held a press conference to urge the suspension of AI textbooks, saying they would deepen students' digital addiction and waste only enormous taxpayers' money.

I'm YTN's Lee Munseok.