Ministry of Education Establishes Dedicated Departments for High School Credit System and Regional Innovation Universities

Four Departments Including the Education Trust Recovery Promotion Team Abolished and Integrated

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Education will establish three new departments dedicated to the high school credit system, regional innovation universities, and junior colleges to enhance work efficiency necessary for promoting the 10 major core tasks this year.

The Ministry of Education announced on the 28th that it will revise the "Enforcement Rules of the Ministry of Education and Its Affiliated Institutions Organization" to apply from March 1st, reflecting these changes.

The newly established 'High School Education Innovation Division' will focus on creating the foundation for introducing the high school credit system that supports student-tailored education, strengthening the capabilities of general high schools, and improving educational conditions. The 'Regional Innovation University Support Division' will support various regional innovation activities based on overcoming the crisis of regional extinction due to rapid population decline, fostering local talent, and cooperation between local governments and universities.

The 'Junior College Support Division' will be separated and newly established from the Junior College Policy Division to improve work efficiency and focus on supporting junior colleges as lifelong vocational education institutions.

Along with this, the Ministry of Education decided to abolish, reduce, or integrate departments such as the 'Education Trust Recovery Officer,' 'Education Job Coordination Division,' 'Industry-Academia Cooperation Policy Division,' and 'Education Cooperation Division.'

Although the Education Trust Recovery Officer will be abolished, matters related to system improvement and operation of the Trust Recovery Promotion Team will be comprehensively managed and carried out by the Planning and Coordination Office (Innovation Administration Officer). The Education Job Coordination Division and Industry-Academia Cooperation Policy Division will be integrated and operated as the 'Industry-Academia Cooperation Job Policy Division,' and the Education Cooperation Division will be reorganized into an 'Autonomous Team (Education Cooperation Team)' to continue its existing work.

This organizational restructuring was carried out by reallocating personnel without increasing the number of dedicated departments or staff for promoting core tasks. This follows the "Organizational Management Innovation Plan (announced by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on January 15th)," which allows rapid organizational restructuring under the minister's responsibility when there is no increase in organization or personnel.

Joo Myung-hyun, Director of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Education, emphasized, "We will reorganize the organization and reallocate personnel to focus on major core tasks and contribute to producing results that the public can feel."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has selected the following as the 10 major core tasks for this year: ▶ Strengthening the public nature of early childhood education ▶ Activating democratic citizenship education ▶ Resolving high school hierarchy ▶ Strengthening general high school capabilities ▶ Promoting the high school credit system ▶ Innovating school spaces ▶ Strengthening fairness in college admissions ▶ Private school innovation ▶ Supporting university and junior college innovation ▶ Activating employment for high school graduates, and is currently promoting related policies.