‘Gamnamu’·‘Damda’·‘Dabin’
Field Experience and Practical Training
The Gyeongbuk Office of Education will provide operating expenses totaling 120 million KRW, with 40 million KRW allocated to each of the three school enterprise operating schools (Sanghee School, Andong Yeongmyeong School, and Pohang Myeongdo School), to expand career and vocational education and employment opportunities for high school and major course students at special schools.
School enterprises refer to activities where a business is established as part of a school department to provide students with opportunities for field experience and practical training, and the profits generated from selling goods and services produced through these activities are reinvested in education.
The major course in special schools refers to a program established in special education institutions for students who have graduated from high school courses, offering a curriculum of more than one year to provide career and vocational education opportunities tailored to their characteristics and talents. School enterprises are operated primarily by major course students.
The operation of school enterprises in special schools aims to improve the vocational adaptability of students with disabilities through customized vocational education, provide vocational training opportunities through field practice, increase employment rates through the formation of industry-academia cooperation networks, and promote awareness of disabilities in the local community.
One of the exemplary cases of school enterprise operation is the Sanghee School enterprise "Gamnamu Cafe," located in the heart of the city closely connected to public institutions, schools, and residential areas. It plays a significant role in improving disability awareness and providing comfortable convenience to residents by offering a cozy cafe atmosphere and beverages made by students with disabilities.
The cafe name "Gamnamu," meaning "sharing gratitude infinitely," symbolizes the students with disabilities returning the abundant love they have received back to the citizens.
Andong Yeongmyeong School’s enterprise "Damda" operates under the motto of being a good company investing in students' dreams, running businesses such as coffee bean sales, secure document shredding, eco-friendly recycled products, and sneaker cleaning.
In particular, the cafe "Myung Coffee," operated by the school enterprise "Damda," opened its first branch, Edu Cafe, inside the Gyeongbuk Office of Education building in December 2018, and operates a second branch at the Andong City Council.
Pohang Myeongdo School’s enterprise "Dabin" carries the meaning "With a challenging spirit and effort, dreams will come true." It operates businesses in areas such as barista experience, Dabin workshop, and Dabin cleaning, receiving great support from parents and students.
Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of Gyeongbuk Office of Education, stated, “School enterprises in special schools teach students with disabilities how to interact and communicate with people in the local community and help develop vocational adaptability skills that are useful for future employment activities. We will spare no administrative and financial support to ensure that school enterprises become learning spaces that support the independence of our students with disabilities and dream spaces connected to employment.”
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