AST-MLEC: AST-Enhanced Multi-Label Error Classifier for Programming Education Support

Programming education has become a vital component of the modern STEM and STEAM curricula. Among the challenges that learners face, logical error codes that are syntactically correct but semantically incorrect are particularly difficult to identify and correct without guidance. To address this issue, we propose an abstract syntax tree (AST)-enhanced multi-label error classifier (AST-MLEC). This Transformer-based model performs fine-grained detection and classification of logical errors at the AST node level. The architecture integrates syntactic structures and token-level semantics through multi-stream encoding with tree positional encoding, enabling the model to capture both structural and contextual cues. Evaluations of submissions from the Aizu Online Judge demonstrated strong performance, achieving an F1-score of 0.6621 and exhibiting high precision in error localization and classification. In contrast to conventional token-based models, AST-MLEC provides interpretable feedback by identifying “where” an error occurs, “what” type it is, and “how” to fix it. By supporting automated, explainable feedback for novice programmers, our approach aligns with the goals of STEAM education, fostering more profound understanding, critical thinking, and self-directed learning in programming.