Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to Implement 'Neulbom School' from First Semester at 38 Schools

Announcement of the 2024 Seoul-style Neulbom School Operation Plan
38 Hope Schools in the 1st Semester... Expansion to All 1st Graders in the 2nd Semester
Priority Placement of Temporary Teachers Planned for On-site Support

Starting in March, a customized care program for first graders will be implemented at 38 elementary schools in Seoul. With the government announcing the full introduction of the ‘Neulbom School’ program this year, it is expected to expand to all public schools in the second semester.

According to the ‘2024 Seoul-style Neulbom School Operation Plan’ released by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 16th, a ‘customized education program’ will begin in the first semester targeting 38 elementary schools that expressed interest. This play-centered class helps first-grade students adapt to school life and is conducted for two hours every day after school. If additional schools wish to participate during the semester, support will be expanded to up to 150 schools.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The schools applying the program from the first semester include five schools under the Seoul Eastern Education Support Office (Sangbong, Jeondong, Jungmok, Hongpa, Hwikyung Elementary Schools), six schools under the Western Education Support Office (Galhyeon, Guheon, Susaek, Ahyeon, Yeongong, Changseo Elementary Schools), and two schools under the Southern Education Support Office (Baeksan, Ojeong Elementary Schools), totaling 38 schools.

[Source: Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education]

A ‘care-linked education program’ combining existing after-school programs and care services will also be promoted. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to create a Seoul-style Neulbom model by designing various classes that integrate care and education. A demand survey for interested schools will be conducted in February, with operations starting in March.

The existing after-school programs and care classrooms will be further strengthened. This year, the basic budget for after-school programs is set at 5.7 billion KRW, with an additional 1.7 billion KRW allocated. For care classrooms, customized services will be enhanced in cooperation with local governments.

Earlier, the Ministry of Education announced through the ‘Neulbom School Promotion Plan’ that it would introduce Neulbom Schools to over 2,700 locations nationwide starting in the first semester this year and expand to all elementary schools in the second semester. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education also plans to gradually expand the customized education program during the first semester and fully implement it in all 565 public elementary schools in the second semester.

To address the long-standing issue of staff shortages, support personnel will be assigned. In the first semester, contract teachers will be placed in operating schools for on-site support, and from the second semester, Neulbom staff will be assigned to all elementary schools to handle administrative tasks related to Neulbom Schools. Short-term staff will also be hired for two months to cover any work gaps.

A Neulbom Promotion Team will be established at the headquarters to design a support system based on interdepartmental collaboration. Additionally, the 12 Neulbom Support Centers in Seoul will be expanded and reorganized to ensure the successful establishment of Neulbom Schools.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "We expect that the promotion of the Seoul-style Neulbom project will be an effective opportunity to address low birth rates by resolving care demands, and we will continue to pursue various projects to eliminate care blind spots."