New "Information and Technology" subject to be established in junior high schools, making generative AI and programming full-fledged required subjects

Explanation

The Central Council for Education of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has presented a proposal to significantly expand information education in the next Courses of Study guidelines. It is expected to be phased in on a preliminary basis as early as fiscal year 2028, with up to about 30 class periods in the third grade of elementary school, up to about 35 class periods per grade in grades 4–6 of elementary school, up to about 70 class periods per grade in the first and second years of junior high school, and up to 35 class periods in the third year of junior high school devoted to information education. The pillars are programming, generative AI, and information ethics; regarding generative AI, emphasis is placed on cultivating the ability to understand risks such as "hallucination" (AI stating plausible-sounding falsehoods) in addition to its convenience, and to use it appropriately and selectively. There is also a proposal to split the Technology and Home Economics subject in junior high schools into "Technology" and "Home Economics," and to newly create an "Information and Technology (tentative name)" subject.