2025 Seoul Education Key Tasks Announcement
Establish Psychological and Emotional Healing Center to Strengthen Mindfulness
Build Seoul Education Plus Governance
Start Comprehensive Survey on High School 'Gye-eom Jeji'
Prepare to Expand Neulbom Classroom in January-February, On-site Guidance Provided
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced its first education policy plan since the inauguration of Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik. Starting this year, it will gradually expand the 'Learning Diagnosis and Growth Center' to establish a customized education system and launch new projects such as laying the foundation for AI (artificial intelligence) and digital education.
On this day, Superintendent Jeong stated regarding the AI digital textbook policy, "It is acceptable to use it as a textbook if it is tested as educational material and proves to be effective enough."
On the morning of the 7th, Superintendent Jeong held a press conference at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the '2025 Major Tasks for Seoul Education,' saying, "Education based on creativity and empathy is only possible through cooperation with the community, not competition for survival," and added, "We will realize cooperative education of creativity and empathy that opens an uncertain future with hope together with the Seoul education community."
The five major policy directions presented by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education are ▲ customized education for all ▲ future competency education based on creativity and coexistence ▲ autonomous and participatory educational community ▲ safe and happy schools ▲ and empathetic and communicative outreach administration.
Jeong Geun-sik, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is announcing the major tasks for Seoul education in 2025 at the New Year's press conference held at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News.
To realize customized education, Superintendent Jeong announced plans to establish and pilot operate 'Seoul Regional Learning Diagnosis and Growth Centers' in four districts of Seoul. These centers will diagnose and provide tailored support for students with basic academic difficulties that are hard to address at schools due to complex or special factors, with phased expansion planned through 2027. Starting in March, a 'Seoul Online School (tentative name)' will be launched, and a pilot project for infant and toddler schools will be conducted. Additionally, a psychological and emotional healing center (Blue Mind Center) will be established to strengthen support for students in psychological and emotional crises.
To strengthen future competency education, the existing literacy and numeracy diagnostic tests will be converted to computer-based testing (CBT) and expanded to approximately 120,000 students across 700 schools. Furthermore, to enhance math and science convergence education, the existing Science Education Center will be expanded and transformed into the 'Math and Science Convergence Education Center (tentative name).'
A 'Seoul Education Plus' governance system will also be created to connect students, parents, teachers, and local communities. Plans include organizing policy roundtables and discussions where participants can exchange policy messages related to Seoul education. An online platform will be established, and local school operation committees will be managed accordingly.
During the Q&A session after the press conference, Superintendent Jeong was asked about the passage of the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which downgraded the status of AI digital textbooks to educational materials. He responded, "We respect the spirit of the amended law passed by the National Assembly," adding, "It is better to use them actively only after their educational effectiveness is clearly verified; using them prematurely without sufficient proof of educational effect is hasty." However, he noted, "Basically, the textbook issue can be decided at the school level by the principal through the school operation committee," and "If a school chooses to use it, the education office can support it within the school budget."
Regarding a recent incident where students at a high school in Seoul posted a declaration condemning the martial law situation online and were restrained by the school based on school regulations, Superintendent Jeong revealed that a comprehensive inspection at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education level has begun. He said, "Due to amendments to the Public Official Election Act, the culture of how to educate and manage political activities in schools is relatively underdeveloped," and added, "I think there was a difference in opinions between students and teachers, and partially between society and students." He also stated, "The comprehensive inspection started yesterday (the 6th) and will continue until the 24th."
Regarding the Neulbom Classroom, which will be expanded to second graders this year, he explained, "We plan to assign 109 Neulbom support officers to public elementary schools and 152 temporary teachers outside the regular quota to provide support," and added, "Conducting phased demand surveys and providing sufficient guidance to prospective students is the task for January and February to expand the operation of Neulbom classrooms."
Furthermore, concerning the 'High School Credit System' policy to be applied from this year, he emphasized, "To recognize diversity, there must be enough teachers at the school level," and said, "I recently met with the Minister of Education and requested the introduction of a policy to temporarily allocate teacher quotas to superintendents." He added, "I received a response that the expansion of temporary teacher quotas will be considered more actively."
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