Gyeongnam Province and Gyeongnam Office of Education Join Forces for the Success of Neulbom School and Early Childhood Integration

Gyeongnam Province and the Gyeongnam Office of Education are joining forces to successfully promote the Neulbom School and the integration of early childhood education and care.

Governor Park Wansoo and Superintendent Park Jonghoon signed a memorandum of understanding on the 20th at the Neulbomsangnam, a hub-type integrated care center located at Changwon Sangnam Elementary School, pledging to cooperate in advancing the Neulbom School and the integration of early childhood education and care.

Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu (right) and Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Park Jonghun are shaking hands after signing a business agreement for the successful promotion of Neulbom School and the integration of kindergarten and daycare. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

This agreement was made to ensure the healthy and safe growth and welfare of children in Gyeongnam, who represent the future generation, and to provide consistent and equitable education and care services for infants and young children.

The Neulbom School is a comprehensive education program that connects various educational resources from schools and local communities outside of regular classes to support students' growth and development, integrating existing elementary after-school classes and care services.

Since the first semester of this year, over 2,700 elementary schools nationwide have been implementing this program for first graders. In Gyeongnam, the nation's first hub-type integrated center, Neulbom, has been operated since 2021, and the "Gyeongnam-style Neulbom School" is currently in operation.

This semester, the program is being offered to first graders at 159 elementary schools in the province, and in the second semester, it will be expanded to all schools in the province, providing customized programs free of charge.

The integration of early childhood education and care aims to merge the kindergarten and daycare center systems, so that infants and young children can receive high-quality education and care services regardless of the institution they attend. The goal is to implement this system by 2025.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province (right) and Superintendent Park Jonghun of Gyeongnam Education Office are watching children jump rope at Neulbom Sangnam, established at Changwon Sangnam Elementary School. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

Through this agreement, the two organizations will form a working-level consultative body for the Neulbom School, collaborate closely, and maximize the use of their respective capabilities and resources to ensure children grow up safely and happily.

They will also work together to ensure the smooth transfer of early childhood care responsibilities to local education offices according to the integration, establish a foundation for high-quality early childhood education services, and make Gyeongnam a better place to raise children.

Jonghoon Park, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Education (left), is shaking hands and greeting a student he met while touring Neulbom Sangnam with Wansu Park, Governor of Gyeongnam Province. Photo by Gyeongnam Office of Education

Governor Park stated, "I hope this agreement to ensure the success of the Neulbom School and the integration of early childhood education and care will serve as a starting point for creating an environment where children can be raised well."

He added, "From the perspective of residents, there is no division of roles between institutions when it comes to creating an environment where children can be cared for well. If there is a way to resolve residents' difficulties and help them live comfortably, we will continue to actively consult with central ministries and the Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education."

Superintendent Park said, "The Gyeongnam Office of Education is actively addressing the low birth rate by closing educational gaps and safely caring for children through leading care policies such as the hub-type integrated care center Neulbom," and added, "I hope we will continue to communicate and cooperate with Gyeongnam Province for the successful settlement of the Gyeongnam-style Neulbom School."