The Ministry of Education announced plans to expand free education and childcare support from age 5 to age 4 next year to strengthen early childhood care. Additionally, the teacher-child ratio for 0-year-old classes will be improved from one teacher per three children to one teacher per two children, and the number of care institutions in vulnerable areas will be significantly increased from 56 to 200.
To foster AI talent leading the future society, the Ministry will establish a fast-track system for innovative undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, and strengthen the institutionalization and support for postdoctoral researchers. The goal is to nurture future talent aiming for ‘AI Top 3’. The Ministry conducted a ‘2026 Ministry of Education Work Report’ at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the 12th.
Support will be expanded to allow autonomous selection and use of AI educational materials, and ‘K-Education AI’ will be developed for universal use in classes and administration. To enable all students to use AI proactively and critically, question-centered classes and descriptive/narrative evaluations will be expanded, and AI-focused schools will be gradually increased.
To strengthen state responsibility for education and care, the Ministry will establish the ‘Whole Village Elementary Care and Education Model’ for enhancing elementary care and provide an annual 500,000 won voucher for after-school programs for third graders. Additionally, to ensure basic academic skills for all students, the National Basic Academic Support Portal will be operated, and personalized learning content and the two-teacher system per classroom will be expanded.