Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education initiates student assessment reform

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education is implementing a major transition in student assessment to move away from rote memorization and toward measuring critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The initiative, termed the ‘Student Assessment Transformation,’ focuses on several core pillars: strengthening teacher expertise, developing and distributing descriptive and essay-type assessment questions, and establishing an AI-based assessment support system.

Recent recruitment for a descriptive assessment question development team saw high interest, with over 120 teachers applying for approximately 50 positions. Selected educators will analyze curriculum standards to create assessment elements, instructions, grading criteria, and feedback materials. These resources are intended to reduce the workload for individual teachers and will be distributed to schools by the first semester of the 2027 academic year following field testing and refinement.

To support this shift, the office is expanding professional training. Following the cultivation of 100 experts last year, the office has trained 200 teachers through basic courses this year. Additionally, an AI-based system is being developed to assist with managing assessment criteria and providing AI-driven grading and feedback, while ensuring that final judgment remains under the professional supervision of teachers. Superintendent Lim Jong-sik stated that the high level of interest from educators reflects expectations for change and pledged to strengthen field-centered support.