2023 Seoul Education Key Tasks Confirmed and Announced
Three-Stage Customized Support Measures to Guarantee Basic Academic Skills
Comprehensive Safety Survey of School Zones in All Seoul Elementary Schools
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Starting from the first semester of this year, first-grade elementary school students in the Seoul area will receive 50,000 KRW per student to cover school life preparation expenses, and the operating hours of elementary after-school care classrooms will be extended until 8 PM.
Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, held a New Year's press conference on the 3rd at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul, emphasizing, "2023 is the first year of complementary innovation," and stated, "We will stabilize the core of education shaken by strong external winds and move toward a future education of coexistence."
Along with this, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education finalized and announced the '2023 Seoul Education Major Tasks.' The '2023 Seoul Education Major Tasks' are set and carried out according to five major policy directions: △ Higher Quality School Education △ More Equal Starting Points △ Warmer Coexistence Education △ More Global Future Education △ Healthier and Safer Education, with 25 action tasks and 88 detailed action tasks.
Superintendent Cho announced plans to support first-grade elementary school students with school life preparation expenses by providing each school with a budget of 50,000 KRW per student. This is to guarantee equality at the starting line of elementary education and to reduce the economic burden on parents.
The operating hours of elementary after-school care classrooms will be gradually extended, and starting from March, afternoon care will be extended until 8 PM at public elementary schools where there is demand. To alleviate the economic burden on parents, all students using after-school care classrooms at 565 public elementary schools will also be provided with free snacks.
Additionally, a budget of 79 billion KRW will be invested to address learning deficits caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Full-time temporary workers who hold teaching qualifications and prospective teachers with rich experience in learning guidance and counseling will be hired, and a customized supplementary curriculum program called 'Jump Up,' which considers students' levels and preferences, will be provided.
For students' mental health, an integrated platform for the Wee Project will be established, and programs for depression and suicide prevention as well as social skills enhancement will be operated. Through organizational restructuring this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will newly form a Mental Health Team to comprehensively support students in need of counseling.
While establishing a multi-layered learning safety net inside and outside schools and classrooms, plans have also been made to support basic academic skill cooperation instructors and learning support tutors, and to provide step-by-step support for basic academic skills through Kidari Saem and Seoul Learning Support Centers.
Customized curricula by school level to expand artificial intelligence (AI) learning opportunities will also be operated and supported. The supply of 'Dibut,' a smart device portable learning tool, blended classes utilizing Edutech, and digital literacy education will be expanded.
Meanwhile, school zone safety will be strengthened to prevent fatal drunk driving accidents. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to conduct a comprehensive safety survey of school zones and commuting routes for all elementary schools by June and will request measures from related agencies.
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