"Enhancing Basic Academic Skills of Elementary Students... Gwangju Office of Education to Strengthen Policies and Support"

Operation of Dedicated Basic Academic Skills Teachers...
Improving Korean Literacy and More
Designation of Gwangju National University of Education as Basic Academic Skills Support Center and Policy Research

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is strengthening policies and support related to improving basic academic skills among elementary students, including expanding the number of schools operating dedicated teachers for this purpose.

On the 30th, the Office announced that it will increase the number of schools with dedicated basic academic skills teachers from 30 last year to 44 this year, develop operational guidelines to enhance the system, and strengthen its connection with the Basic Academic Skills Support Center.

The Office currently operates a dedicated teacher system to prevent learning deficits in literacy and basic numeracy among lower-grade elementary students.

Dedicated teachers for basic academic skills establish a "prevention-diagnosis-guidance-management" system within schools and provide tailored support, such as focused instruction in literacy and numeracy, to help improve students' basic academic abilities. As a result, the percentage of elementary students who have not acquired Korean literacy and the number of students struggling with basic academic skills have decreased each year, both falling below 1%.

The Basic Academic Skills Support Centers previously operated by the Eastern and Western Education Support Offices will now be designated and managed by Gwangju National University of Education. The university will conduct research on Gwangju's basic academic policies and provide training for learning support education at the Support Center.

The Eastern and Western Education Support Offices also operate Comprehensive Learning Clinic Centers, connecting students who struggle academically due to dyslexia, borderline intelligence, or emotional and psychological issues with specialized institutions and personnel.

In-depth diagnosis and treatment are provided in collaboration with five local child psychiatry clinics, 41 speech therapy institutions, clinical psychologists, and learning coaching committee members.

This year, a new "Deogeupi Diagnosis Service" will be introduced to offer educational direction consulting and guidance on teaching methods to teachers and parents of students facing academic challenges.

Models such as "University Student Assistant Instructors" and "Learning Paper Tutors" will also be implemented, where specialized personnel collaborate with homeroom teachers for co-teaching and individualized instruction.

The University Student Assistant Instructor Program, in partnership with local universities, utilizes pre-service teachers for class assistance and life education, achieving both the assurance of basic academic skills and the enhancement of pre-service teachers' instructional capabilities.

Learning Support Tutors, hired at each elementary, middle, and high school, assist with collaborative lessons and digital learning activities.

On the 12th of next month, the Office will hold the "2025 Basic Academic Skills Assurance Briefing Session" at the main auditorium of the Gwangju Education Training Institute to present this year's key policies.

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education building.

Superintendent Lee Jungseon stated, "Ensuring responsibility for basic academic skills is a duty of public education to empower students in their lives," and added, "We will continue to implement robust basic academic skills policies so that no student is left behind in learning."