Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Improves 'Nongsan Eochon Study Abroad' to a Settlement-Type Long-Term Model

Development Task of the 4th Elected Term: 'Protecting Small Schools' to Address Regional Disappearance

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education plans to improve the Jeonnam Rural Agricultural and Fishing Village Study Abroad Program into a settlement-type long-term study abroad format to mark the launch of the 4th term of Jeonnam education under civilian administration.

On the 30th, Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education decided to expand and improve the rural agricultural and fishing village study abroad project into a settlement-type long-term study abroad program by addressing the issues of the past one and a half years, as the first step of the 4th term "Great Transformation of Jeonnam Education" to create a Jeonnam that attracts people through education.

In the first semester of last year, a total of 304 students participated in the Jeonnam Rural Agricultural and Fishing Village Study Abroad program, living in 50 schools across 18 cities and counties in Jeonnam. Among them, 219 students wished to extend their stay for the next semester, and 34 students were identified as long-term study abroad students residing for more than five years.

For the second semester of this year, 86 new students expressed their desire to participate. In the upcoming second semester, a total of 305 study abroad students are expected to live in 52 schools across 19 cities and counties.

The settlement-type long-term study abroad means that the entire family moves and lives in the study abroad area for at least five years. This program was first launched in the first semester of this year at Haenam Bukil Elementary School and Duryun Middle School.

The settlement-type long-term study abroad at these two schools is recognized as a representative example of "public-private-academic" collaboration, operated jointly by the Office of Education, local governments, and local communities.

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education plans to model the Haenam-gun case and expand the participating cities and counties through briefings and consulting for local governments wishing to participate in the project.

To sustain the settlement-type long-term study abroad, improving settlement conditions for study abroad families is diagnosed as the most urgent task. The office plans to strengthen cooperation with local governments and related organizations and promote linkage with central government public projects such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Local Extinction Response Fund and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Regional Development Projects.

An official from the Office of Education stated, "Local governments are expected to provide quality housing and living infrastructure, while the Office of Education will handle student recruitment, placement, and curriculum operation, enabling stable project implementation through role sharing." He added, "The operation period of short-term study abroad programs aimed at increasing the resident population will be extended from the current minimum of six months to one year starting next year to secure a stable foundation for project operation, and prior consultations with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education have been completed."

For inquiries about the Jeonnam Rural Agricultural and Fishing Village Study Abroad program, detailed information can be found through notices on the official website, or by contacting the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education.