The government has decided to designate single standardized Korean history textbooks for middle and high schools amid fierce debate that some of the nation's 17 textbooks are ideologically prejudiced.
 
A key official at the Ministry of Education confirmed to KBS on Wednesday that it plans to make a formal announcement on Monday. 
 
The official explained that all middle and high school students will learn from standardized Korean history textbooks beginning in 2017.
 
The government had allowed state-authorized private publishing companies to print Korean history textbooks from 1946, but switched to state-designated history textbooks in 1974. It again allowed multiple Korean history textbooks in 2010, but will reintroduce state textbooks after seven years.