Gyeongbuk Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jong-sik) announced on the 11th that it has selected 11 students to provide customized support such as cochlear implant procedures for hearing-impaired students, aiming to guarantee their right to education and reduce the financial burden on parents.
The support targets students who are designated as special education recipients due to hearing impairment and are enrolled in special schools or kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in the Gyeongbuk region. This includes students who require cochlear implant procedures, those who need replacement of related components, and those who need financial support for hearing aid purchases. Each student will receive actual expense support up to 10 million KRW.
Last month, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education accepted applications and conducted on-site inspections and phone consultations regarding the degree of disability, family environment, and school life. After consultation with the customized support team, the final 11 students were selected through a review by an external evaluation committee: 6 students for replacement of internal and external cochlear implant devices and 5 students for hearing aid purchase support. A total budget of 60 million KRW will be provided in two phases at the end of August this year and in January next year.
Cochlear implant procedures restore hearing for patients with severe hearing loss who cannot hear even with hearing aids. The procedure is expensive, and additional high costs are incurred for replacing internal and external devices every 5 to 10 years, causing significant financial burden for parents.
With the customized support for cochlear implant procedure costs provided by the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, hearing-impaired students who regain their hearing can improve their communication skills, naturally interact and study with their school friends, and confidently participate in society.
Meanwhile, Gyeongbuk Office of Education was the first in the country to begin supporting cochlear implant procedure costs in 2022. For the third consecutive year, it has been striving to ensure the healthy growth and educational opportunities for hearing-impaired students. In 2022, a total budget of 100 million KRW supported 22 students, and in 2023, a budget of 80 million KRW supported 18 students.
Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of Gyeongbuk Office of Education, said, "We expect that this customized support for hearing-impaired students will greatly contribute to guaranteeing their right to education and expanding their social participation," and added, "We will continue to spare no effort in providing various support to guarantee the learning rights of hearing-impaired students."
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