Seoul Neulbom School Adds 1-Hour Free Care Support... Expanded to 151 Schools

Final Selection of Additional Schools Announced in April
Neulbom School Also Designated for Special Schools

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to expand the Neulbom School program, currently operating in 38 schools during the first semester, to approximately 150 schools. In addition to the existing free 2-hour Neulbom School program, an additional hour of extended care will also be available.

On the 27th, the Office announced that it will strengthen the promotion measures for the Seoul-type Neulbom School and enhance customized support for schools operating Neulbom Schools. The Seoul-type Neulbom School is a concept that encompasses the government’s Neulbom School program, which is a tailored 2-hour program for first graders in elementary school, as well as elementary care classrooms and after-school programs.

Seoul-style Neulbom School Timetable. / Source: Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

First, the Office plans to increase the number of schools operating Neulbom Schools during the semester. According to the Office, 151 schools have expressed interest in operating Neulbom Schools in the first semester (including existing schools, hopeful schools, and schools recommended by support offices). The Office will check the preparation status and operational conditions of these schools and make the final selection of implementing schools by next month.

Additionally, under the "Seoul-type care" system, students using Neulbom Schools who leave school at 4 p.m. will be able to use an additional hour of extended care. The plan is to provide customized educational programs by utilizing the existing after-school linked care classrooms.

Connections with the local community will also be strengthened through care institutions in Seoul and basic local governments. The Seoul-type Neulbom School will expand support for specialized programs such as arts and physical education, AI, and economic finance through MOUs with related organizations and local universities. In particular, plans are being considered to secure spaces in local government areas near overcrowded schools to operate Neulbom Schools. Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon requested local governments to provide spaces near overcrowded schools for Neulbom Schools during a district mayor council meeting on the 13th.

The environment for Neulbom Schools will be stably prepared by establishing teacher research rooms. Ahead of the full implementation of Neulbom Schools in the second semester, the Office will strengthen support for schools by presenting "standard examples" and providing "design phase work support" for large-scale construction of Neulbom classrooms and teacher research rooms. The Office explained that budgets for building teacher research rooms and multipurpose classrooms will be pre-allocated to schools to ensure timely classroom improvements for the full implementation in the second semester.

Starting next month, the Neulbom pilot schools will also be expanded to special schools. Seoul Jeongmin School and Seoul Jeongjin School have been selected. The Office stated, "We have formed and are operating a Seoul-type Special School Neulbom Promotion Task Force (TF) through a meeting of special school principals." The TF is responsible for tasks such as analyzing obstacles and confirming conditions for promoting Neulbom in special schools based on professional knowledge and discussions about the special education environment and subjects.

Superintendent Cho said, "Through on-site support for Neulbom Schools, we will identify difficulties and best practices from schools operating in the first half of the year and make precise countermeasures to ensure that the full implementation in the second semester proceeds smoothly."