Jang Seok-woong, Jeonnam Superintendent of Education, Issues Statement on Online School Opening

Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Jeonnam Office of Education (Photo by Jeonnam Office of Education)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jeong Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam Province, issued a statement on the 2nd encouraging and urging thorough preparation among 30,000 Jeonnam education staff regarding the online school opening due to the spread of COVID-19 infections.

Superintendent Jeong said, “Although the Jeonnam Office of Education and teachers have been voluntarily preparing for online classes since mid-March, now is the time to put all our efforts together to prepare,” adding, “Let us cultivate roots that will never be shaken again even in times of crisis.”

He continued, “The provincial education office will fully support schools through operating 57 remote education pilot schools, running remote education support teams, introducing and training on various remote education platforms, providing abundant learning content, and school consulting.”

He also emphasized, “The provincial education office will spare no effort to support schools by operating 57 remote education pilot schools, running remote education support teams, introducing and training on various remote education platforms, providing abundant learning content, and school consulting. We will also make thorough preparations for supporting smart devices and communication fees for students in need, as well as operating offline remote classes.”

He stated, “Now, Korean education will undergo a paradigm shift from the traditional face-to-face teaching and learning methods to personalized individual learning utilizing AI and big data due to the COVID-19 situation,” and expressed, “We must turn this crisis into an opportunity.”

Superintendent Jeong said, “Everyone says this is a crisis, but I am not greatly worried because we have outstanding and passionate teachers in Jeonnam,” urging, “Please become a support system that lifts each other up so that every school welcoming the upcoming school opening will be filled with laughter.”

He added, “In winter, visible growth stops, but invisible roots grow,” and concluded, “In the process of overcoming this crisis, spring has already come deep within us and will bloom through the upright growth and change of our children.”