South Korea plans to create future-oriented learning spaces nationwide,
where students will actively work with artificial intelligence to solve problems and create
their own developments. This year, the Ministry of Education will allocate 16.7 billion won for
the creation of 'AI integration learning rooms' in 118 elementary, middle,
high, and special schools. The goal of the project is to form an educational environment,
going beyond merely theoretical knowledge about AI and providing for its practical
application within standard academic subjects.
On Wednesday, the ministry announced the final list of 118 schools granted the right
to funding under the '2026 AI Integration Learning Rooms' program.
Construction work and operational support will begin on October 29.
This initiative aligns with last year's 'AI Specialist Training Plan for All'
and aims to create an integrated learning environment preparing students for the era of artificial
intelligence.
School selection was conducted through a comprehensive assessment considering alignment with curricula, clarity of space usage plans
operational organization capabilities, sustainability of integrated learning, and prospects for disseminating
achieved results. Construction of AI integration learning rooms is planned to be completed
in the second half of this year, after which they will begin full operation.
Of the selected institutions, 35 are elementary schools, 32 are middle schools, 47 are high schools, and 4 are special schools.
By region, Seoul leads with 19 schools, followed by Gyeonggi-do (18), Gyeongsangnam-do (11), while Incheon,
Chungcheongnam-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do each have 8 institutions.
These AI integration learning rooms are oriented toward activity-based learning:
in them, students will be able to independently explore and solve problems, moving away from traditional lecture-format classrooms.
The spaces will promote interdisciplinary study, combining natural sciences, mathematics, and informat
ion technologies, as well as support AI-based data analysis, design,
manufacturing classes, and collaborative project-based learning.
Examples of project classes could include developing solutions for fire trucks with robotic
manipulators for moving in hazardous zones or creating environmental monitoring devices
for protecting vulnerable populations during extreme weather events, such as heat waves.
'The initiative to create AI integration learning rooms aims to modernize
educational spaces and provide students with future-oriented learning experiences,'
the Ministry of Education stated. 'We will continue to support schools in developing students'
creative problem-solving skills.'