[Full Text] New Year's Address by Lee Jae-jung, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education

Lee Jae-jung, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education

"Education is the future and hope of the nation."

The new year of 2022, the Year of the Black Tiger (Im In Year), has dawned.

In the new year, we pray that the black tiger will awaken the world with a mighty roar

and fill it with overwhelming hope.

To all members of the Gyeonggi education family, may your homes be filled with luck,

and may we all be freed from the fear and threat of COVID-19,

as our students create a new year full of joy and meaningful achievements.

Although the world has faced great difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years,

our government and schools have protected students' health

while continuously achieving growth and change without losing hope in education.

Our society has also broken down boundaries

while pursuing new values amid unprecedented chaos, disconnection, hatred, and despair.

And in that place of life, we have 'together' created a path toward the future.

In this context, we earnestly posed these questions:

How can the educational values of life, coexistence, and cooperation be realized?

What should education aim for after COVID-19?

How should schools change for future education?

Facing rapid changes in the global environment and the era of population decline,

the world of artificial intelligence is making the expanded virtual world (Metaverse)

a reality, opening new possibilities.

Once again, we pledge to move forward into the future with our children, not abandoning a single one.

In the new year,

we will love our children more,

respect them more dearly,

cultivate greater empathy,

create more space for cooperative hearts,

and devote ourselves more than ever so that they can confidently turn crises into opportunities.

On March 9 of the new year, a new president will be elected,

and a new government will be formed.

Then, on June 1, through local elections,

the 5th popularly elected superintendent of education for our education office will be chosen.

In the post-COVID-19 era and amid political and social changes,

to achieve future education for our children,

we must increase investment in education.

If the nation does not boldly increase education funding beyond the current level,

it will be abandoning education,

and furthermore, abandoning the nation's future.

Among OECD member countries with much better educational conditions than ours,

such as Sweden, Norway, Austria, and Finland,

education expenditure has been significantly increased after COVID-19 compared to before.

However, our government budget authorities criticized the education field for not reducing the education budget despite declining student numbers,

and cut several hundred billion won from the 2022 budget grants.

This decision ignores the legislative spirit and rationality guaranteed by law for education budgets.

They even question why more teachers and budgets are needed when student numbers decrease.

To reduce the number of students per class, naturally, the number of teachers must increase,

the number of classes must increase, and school facilities must be expanded.

First, we must raise the grant rate of domestic taxes stipulated in the Grants-in-Aid Act from 20.79%

to at least 20.94%.

This is the legislative spirit that sets education budgets by law.

The National Assembly must revise and approve this law.

This is not a future task but an urgent current issue.

It is the minimum condition for education to survive.

Has defense spending decreased because the population declined?

Has welfare spending decreased because the population declined?

Have hospitals and medical personnel been reduced because the population declined?

Have police stations, fire stations, prosecutors, or judges been reduced because the population declined?

Although there are large regional disparities, many schools still face difficulties in receiving proper education due to oversized schools and overcrowded classes.

There are countless schools with poor educational environments urgently needing facility improvements.

We must immediately secure educational equipment and research and develop educational materials to improve the efficiency of online classes.

And the Green Smart School project, which will begin construction in the new year,

should continue to expand after 2025 to convert all schools into smart schools.

Furthermore, to fully expand the high school credit system starting in 2022 to all schools by 2025,

improvements in educational environments, establishment of information education infrastructure,

and multiple majors and retraining for teachers for convergence education are urgent.

There is no time. We cannot delay any longer.

Now, the Republic of Korea must boldly expand education funding for the future.

We have already entered the ranks of advanced countries, have we not?

Therefore, investment in education funding commensurate with this status is urgently needed.

Gyeonggi education has expanded 'innovation schools' centered on students and the field,

and 'village schools' such as Dream Schools, Dream Universities, and Mongsil Schools have led educational change.

In addition, Gunseo Future International School and Exciting School

are opening new paths in school domains and education.

Furthermore, new alternative schools are being created in fields such as arts, sports, and culture

to allow students to passionately pursue their interests.

The 2nd campus, starting in 2022,

will enable students to proactively create their own education.

There is no room for hesitation.

A new era is opening before us.

Please join us on this path.

Then, united as one toward the same goal,

with dedication and passion, we will surely open the path to the future of Gyeonggi education vigorously.

To the Gyeonggi education family,

including students, parents, teachers and staff, public officials,

and the 13.5 million residents of Gyeonggi Province,

I wish a hopeful new year filled with happy dreams and beautiful daily lives.

May you receive many blessings

and stay healthy throughout the new year.

January 1, 2022

Gyeonggi Provincial Superintendent of Education Lee Jae Jeong