South Korean school textbooks will be all digital by 2015

South Korea is taking the lead on technology and education, promising to spend $2 billion to convert its entire school system’s curriculum and texts to a variety of digital formats by 2015.

Though we haven’t seen many laptops or tablets tackle textbooks  in the U.S. yet, South Korea isn’t waiting for consumers. The country’s Ministry of Science and Technology has announced that it will digitize its entire elementary-level educational textbooks and materials by 2014. Topping that goal, the entire school-age curriculum will be available on computers, smartphones, and tablets by by 2015. To make this happen, the country will spend 2.2 trillion won ($2.06 billion), reports the Straits Times Indonesia.

In addition, the ministry is pushing for online classes to be available so that students who miss classes can catch up. Online hours will be recognized as attendance under some circumstances.

“Korean students have ranked first in terms of digital literacy among developed nations according to the OECD-run Program for International Student Assessment,” said an official from the Education Ministry. “That’s why Korean students, who are already fully prepared for digital society, need a paradigm shift in education.”.. Read More [via digitaltrends]