Visit to Gwangui Elementary and Osan Elementary... On-site Inspection of Rural Agricultural and Fishing Village Study Abroad Programs
Kim Dae-jung, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam Province, visited Gwangui Elementary School in Gurye and Osan Elementary School in Gokseong on the 26th as part of the ‘Public Transportation (敎通)’ field communication program to check the progress of educational policies for students studying in rural farming and fishing villages.
Gwangui Elementary School in Gurye was the only school in Jeonnam selected this year for the Ministry of Education’s school complex facility public project. It is advantageously located with villages concentrated within a 1 km radius, creating an educational environment that coexists with local residents.
Former Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Kim Dae-jung visited Gurye Gwangui Elementary School and Gokseong Osan Elementary School as part of the 'Public Transportation (敎通)' field communication program to check the status of rural student exchange promotion. Provided by Jeonnam Office of Education
On that day at Gwangui Elementary, Superintendent Kim received an explanation about plans to integrate welfare and cultural facilities such as care centers, libraries, lifelong learning centers, and happy family complex centers into the school through cooperation with Gurye County, and discussed specific measures to improve on-campus facilities.
Next, Osan Elementary School in Gokseong, visited by Superintendent Kim, is a successful case that brought new vitality to students and the local community by providing students who had only received remote classes from large cities like Seoul during COVID-19 with opportunities to live and learn in nature. It was also featured in the documentary program ‘Docu Insight,’ attracting attention.
Osan Elementary School in Gokseong, facing the threat of closure, established a study abroad program through cooperation among the education office, Gokseong County, the school, and local residents. Based on the ‘Dodam Dodam Study Abroad Village’ created by local residents, it provides stable living and learning environments for rural exchange students. The school offers distinctive education focused on garden activities and etiquette education, and diversifies students’ learning experiences through 10 after-school programs. Most programs are available from the first grade, allowing even young students to enjoy a wide range of learning activities.
The Provincial Office of Education plans to take Gwangui and Osan Elementary Schools as model cases and focus on developing and supporting specialized educational activities for rural farming and fishing villages that provide students nationwide with opportunities to grow in nature.
Superintendent Kim said, “The rural study abroad program will breathe new life into small schools in Jeonnam facing closure and will be an important opportunity for exchange students from across the country to fully enjoy life in Jeonnam.” He promised, “We will create sufficient conditions for exchange students to experience ecological and environmental education in Jeonnam’s pristine nature and personalized, competency-centered specialized education.”
He added, “Jeonnam’s rural education is not just about providing education to students but is an important opportunity to prevent regional extinction and make rural farming and fishing villages attractive residential environments through organic cooperation and coexistence with local residents.” He concluded, “We will continue to spare no support for innovation in rural education.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
