The South Korean government will spend W2.2 trillion ($2 billion) on digitising its entire school curriculum and rolling out tablet devices to schools.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology plans to digitise all subjects for elementary school students by 2014, and for middle and high school students by 2015.
According to South Korean news reports, the digital textbooks will reproduce all the content of traditional textbooks, but will also incorporate multimedia and FAQ functionality.
The government intends to create cloud computing systems in all schools in order to make the materials available via any PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet device.
The ministry is also said to be planning to provide children from low-income families with free tablet PCs. Other plans include the provision of online classes for some subjects for students unable to attend classes due to bad weather or illness.
It is yet to be announced what make or model of devices will be purchased, although it is speculated that Korean tech-giant Samsung could stand to benefit from the new strategy.
The Korea Herald reports that the government intends to begin training teachers to handle the devices required for “smart education” from next year.
According to the ministry, the country ranked first in the 2009 Digital Reading Assessment conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development's Programme for International Student Assessment.
Statistics show South Korea has the highest percentage of Internet penetration in Asia, currently at 81%. The country also has the highest number of broadband connections per capita in the world, accounted for by its government-backed broadband policy.
A recent Guardian report stated digital skills have become vital for education and employment, with individuals with such skills earning 10% more and being 25% more likely to get a job.
Limited and slow broadband access is an acknowledged problem in SA and not conducive to a similar project. However, it could be argued that a more back-to-basics approach is required in local schools. South African Grade Three and Six pupils scored only 28% in numeracy and literacy in a countrywide assessment test earlier this year, a result basic education minister Angie Motshekga described as “very sad”.
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