‘Growing Me’, ‘Harmonious Us’, ‘Opening the Future Together’ ... Gyeongbuk Office of Education Holds ‘2023-2026 Future Education Vision Proclamation Ceremony’

Warm Gyeongbuk Education Empowering Life Skills, Toward Global Education Standards

Gyeongbuk Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gui-yeol] On the 17th, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education held the ‘2023-2026 Gyeongbuk Future Education Vision Proclamation Ceremony’ at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office of Education Cultural Center Grand Theater, attended by about 700 people including Gyeongbuk Provincial Council members, students, parents, faculty, and local residents.

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education will continue to uphold the first term vision of ‘Warm Gyeongbuk Education that nurtures the power of life’ in the second term as well. The indicators, which concretize the vision, have been newly set as ‘Growing Me,’ ‘Harmonious Us,’ and ‘Opening the Future Together.’

Based on the vision and indicators, the four major policy directions are set as ‘Curriculum with Life,’ ‘Empowering Future Education,’ ‘Schools Adding Warmth,’ and ‘Innovative Educational Support.’

First, ‘Curriculum with Life’ aims to make learning itself a part of life by guiding basic academic skills and foundational literacy education according to developmental stages and strengthening customized curriculum operation by school level.

Kindergartens focus on learning through play, elementary students grow as learners, middle school students find their own learning, and high school students can design their career paths.

This reflects the commitment to place students’ lives at the center of the curriculum so they grow as masters of their own lives and talents who contribute to social development.

Second, ‘Empowering Future Education’ prepares education for a complex and uncertain future. To respond to the declining school-age population, it supports residential schools such as hub schools in rural fishing villages and Gyeongbuk-style village schools, creating conditions where residents can settle without educational concerns.

In response to the digital transformation, metaverse laboratories and digital knowledge Onmaru centers are established to lead the AI era. To confront the climate crisis, marine ecology experience centers and environmental education centers are built, and the Nakdong River ecological education curriculum is developed and distributed.

Additionally, to enable Gyeongbuk education to unfold on the global stage, it promotes the globalization of the Cyber Dokdo School, forms a network of the world’s top 10 cities centered on Gyeongju, and activates international exchanges.

Third, ‘Schools Adding Warmth’ guarantees fair opportunities for all and strengthens educational support so that every student can grow harmoniously.

Policies to reduce educational expenses such as learning materials and field trip fees are expanded, and a new initial support team for major issues and emergency welfare is established to enhance crisis response capabilities.

To eliminate commuting inconveniences, EduBus and EduTaxi are introduced, and support for customized special and multicultural education is provided so that children in Gyeongbuk, wherever they are, face no difficulties in receiving school education.

A career convergence experience education center is established to prevent school dropout and strengthen student-tailored career education.

Fourth, ‘Innovative Educational Support’ continuously innovates environments, culture, and systems for student growth and harmonious schools.

It promotes a clean and pleasant school environment, meal services free of the three ‘nos’ (no complaints, no waste, no leftovers), introduces the 3S work reduction system, and policy innovation academies to create a culture of integrity and fairness, continuously advancing innovation in autonomous and responsible school education support.

Superintendent Lim Jong-sik emphasized, “The goal of Gyeongbuk education must go beyond South Korea, and since our children will live on the global stage and grow into talents who contribute to humanity, Gyeongbuk education must also be reborn as a standard of global education.”

He said, “We will focus solely on the children so that Gyeongbuk students can become masters of their own lives, challenge the world, achieve their dreams, and acquire the capabilities to contribute to social development.”