Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Expand Kindergarten Marine Education to 1,000 Locations

'Announcement of Measures to Strengthen Marine Education in the Era of Global Marine Action'

The government will significantly expand marine education programs introduced in school curricula at all levels starting next year. The distribution of marine education programs in kindergartens will increase to 1,000 locations, and more than 900 sessions of marine education programs will be provided in elementary classrooms. The government plans to ensure that systematic marine education is accessible across all educational stages, from elementary, middle, and high schools to universities.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the “Global Marine Action Era, Strengthening Marine Education Plan” at the Social Relations Ministers' Meeting. This plan, the first agenda item submitted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to the meeting, aims to strategically enhance marine education in consideration of its growing importance in the international community.

To expand the incorporation of marine education into school curricula at all levels, the Ministry will provide customized lifecycle marine programs reflecting changes in educational policies such as integrated early childhood education, Neulbom School, and career education. Through this, the plan envisions that systematic marine knowledge will be accessible from early childhood education through lectures in elementary, middle, high schools, and universities.

In classrooms for infants and toddlers, the production and distribution of educational programs that allow experiences of marine ecosystems and related occupations will be expanded. This year, programs were distributed to 800 early childhood education institutions, and next year, this will increase to 1,000 locations. In line with the increase in professional training hours for early childhood educators, the number of training sessions for marine education will also increase from the current 6 to more than 8 sessions.

In elementary classrooms, through the Neulbom School program, basic marine education programs linked to the regular curriculum will be distributed with 8 to 40 sessions per semester. The marine education programs, which previously offered more than 150 sessions, will be significantly increased to over 900 sessions starting next year. Additionally, from next year, customized marine education programs tailored to students of all grades will be promoted.

Marine education programs linked to the free semester system and high school credit system will also be provided in middle and high schools. To broadly stimulate middle school students' interest in the ocean, marine career textbooks will be produced and distributed starting next year, and the content of career education centers in each metropolitan and provincial office of education will be enhanced. For high schools, the integrated marine textbook “Human and the Ocean” will be revised and distributed more widely. This year, the textbook was provided only to two schools, Wando Su-go and Korea Haema High School, but starting next year, marine textbooks will be distributed to 10 schools, including vocational high schools specializing in marine and fisheries.

Opportunities for marine experiential learning linked to local communities will also be expanded. National marine museums, science centers, and other exhibition and cultural facilities established across the country will be specialized as family-oriented experiential education centers and marine education hubs for local communities. To integrate marine museums and marine science centers and strengthen educational functions, amendments to the Marine Education and Culture Act will be pursued.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated, “In response to the global trend in marine education, the Ministry has presented a strategic direction for response,” and added, “Continuous interest is needed so that the effects of expanded marine education can be widely reflected in schools at all levels, local communities, and corporate activities.”