Ulsan Office of Education Takes Steps to Develop Operation Plan for Elementary After-School Care Class

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education has begun preparing an operational plan for Ulsan-type elementary care classrooms in anticipation of the gradual expansion of Neulbom School.

Neulbom School means "a school as warm as spring all year round" and is a policy that provides integrated education and care services to all elementary students who wish to participate. After a pilot operation this year, it is scheduled to expand gradually from next year and nationwide by 2025.

In the Ulsan area, all elementary schools operate afternoon care classrooms, and after-school linked care classrooms are operated only in schools that wish to do so. Last year, 5,728 students participated in afternoon care classrooms, and 515 students participated in linked care classrooms.

On the 3rd at 2 p.m., the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education held a roundtable discussion titled "Establishing an Operational Plan for Ulsan Elementary Care Classrooms That Everyone Hopes For" in the Oesol meeting room, attended by parents of 1st and 2nd-grade elementary students, school administrators, and elementary care specialists.

The discussion proceeded in the order of presenting the current status of elementary care classrooms and survey results, conducting roundtable discussions by group, and announcing the results.

Ulsan Office of Education.

Prior to the discussion, from January 25 to 27, the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education conducted a preliminary survey targeting 1,227 people, including parents of 1st and 2nd-grade elementary students, elementary school principals, and elementary care specialists, regarding preferred care types and other matters.

The survey results showed that parents primarily wished to expand the currently operated care classrooms, such as afternoon care classrooms and after-school linked care classrooms, so that all students who want to use them can do so.

The Neulbom School care types are divided into morning care, operating from 7 to 9 a.m.; afternoon care, operating until 7 p.m. after school; after-school linked care classrooms, operating during after-school program gaps; and evening care, operating from 7 to 8 p.m.

They also responded that policies are needed to operate various types of care, such as morning and evening care and care classrooms during vacations, to alleviate the burden on dual-income families even a little.

There was also an opinion that the special skills and aptitude programs currently operated in care classrooms should be conducted according to the developmental stages by grade, and that meal provision is desired during vacations.

Care specialists and school principals answered that securing student safety and expanding care facilities within apartments and local children's centers that are easily accessible to parents require the role-sharing of local governments, and that active cooperation such as support for snack and program costs is also necessary. Parents expressed the same opinion.

Parents, school principals, and care specialists all agreed that national-level policies and considerations that allow parents to directly care for their children at home should take priority over simply increasing the number of care classrooms.

On the day of the discussion, five facilitators were assigned one per roundtable to assist the process. The meeting was conducted using a brainstorming method to actively elicit participants' opinions.

An official from the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education said, "We will collect various opinions and, through consultations with the local community, prepare an 'Ulsan-type elementary care classroom' plan tailored to regional characteristics so that care services desired by parents can be provided, thereby strengthening the accountability of public education."