South Korea’s ambitious plan to introduce AI-powered tablets into classrooms by next year is facing pushback from concerned parents. According to a report from The Financial Times, the government aims to have these tablets equipped with AI-driven textbooks for most subjects by 2028, excluding music, art, physical education, and ethics. While the initiative promises to tailor learning materials to individual student needs and provide teachers with real-time monitoring dashboards, details on implementation remain scarce.
Over 50,000 parents have signed a petition urging the government to reconsider its tech-heavy approach, citing worries about their children’s overall well-being. They argue that the emphasis on digital devices could exacerbate existing issues related to screen time. “We are already seeing unprecedented challenges from our children’s exposure to digital devices,” said Lee Sun-youn, a concerned mother of two.
Lee and others are concerned that the increased use of tablets might negatively impact brain development, attention spans, and problem-solving abilities. “Our children are already spending too much time on smartphones and tablets,” Lee added, reflecting a broader apprehension about the balance between technology and traditional learning methods.
As the South Korean government presses forward with its digital education revolution, the debate highlights the ongoing struggle to find the right balance between technological innovation and student health.
