[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education is operating a ‘Small School Free School District’ for four elementary schools in the agricultural, mountainous, and fishing villages of Gijang-gun.
The ‘Small School Free School District’ has been in operation since the 2022 academic year and allows enrollment without changing the address.
The Office of Education is implementing this system to revitalize small schools and alleviate overcrowding in large schools in Jeonggwan New Town.
The target schools for implementation are six large schools: Mojun Elementary School, Jeongwon Elementary School, Jeonggwan Elementary School, Gadong Elementary School, Banggok Elementary School, and Dalsan Elementary School; and four small schools: Wolpyeong Elementary School, Cheolma Elementary School, Jangan Elementary School, and Jwacheon Elementary School.
Under this system, students enrolled in large schools can attend small schools. However, students from small schools cannot enroll in large schools.
The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to support 10 million KRW per school for operating special programs unique to small schools.
After evaluating the performance of the ‘Small School Free School District,’ the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to expand and operate it in Ilgwang New Town and surrounding agricultural, mountainous, and fishing village areas.
Superintendent Kim Seok-jun stated, “We will revitalize small schools by discovering programs that leverage the strengths of small schools and programs linked with the local community.”
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