The education ministry’s plan to introduce artificial intelligence(AI)-based digital textbooks from next year’s new semester is on the verge of being scrapped. 

The opposition-controlled National Assembly passed during a plenary session on Thursday revisions the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which stipulate AI digital textbooks as “teaching materials” rather than official textbooks. 

The revisions will be put into effect the moment they are promulgated. 

As a result, the education ministry’s plan to introduce AI textbooks for math, English and information technology in third and fourth grade classes in elementary schools, as well as middle school and high school freshman classes from the new academic year in March has come to a full stop. 

Education authorities are currently conducting demonstrative classes and training teachers with authorized-AI digital textbooks while schools are in the final stages of setting up related infrastructure. 

In a statement issued shortly after the revisions were passed, education minister Lee Ju-ho said he will propose such revisions be rejected as they will likely cause confusion at schools and society. 

Observers believe that with such remarks, the education minister has signalled he intends to ask that Acting President Han Duck-soo veto the revisions.

Introducing such books was one of the government's three education reform plans.