Utilizing Existing Schools Through Conversion to Science High School... Reducing Budget
Expanding General High School Education Support Budget to Build an Advanced Education City
Mayor Shin Sang-jin: "Utilizing Local Resources... Supporting the Growth of Global Future Talents"
Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Shin Sang-jin) announced on the 7th that it is promoting the establishment of a 'future-oriented science high school' to be enjoyed together with general schools.
Seongnam City was finally selected as a 'Gyeonggi-type Science High School' on February 28. The photo shows the briefing session for attracting the science high school. Provided by Seongnam City
Seongnam City was finally selected as a 'Gyeonggi-type Science High School' on February 28. This valuable achievement reflects the wishes of Seongnam citizens, including the support signatures of about 90,000 citizens for attracting the science high school, 94.8% agreement from elementary school parents, and 84.8% agreement from the educational members of Bundang Jungang High School.
Seongnam City plans to dramatically raise the level of local education through the establishment of this science high school.
Regarding the demand for local talent selection, Seongnam City requested a review from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education starting in September last year, and plans to continuously advocate for local talent selection for Seongnam students.
Regarding the science high school budget, in the case of Siheung City and Icheon City, which are newly establishing science high schools, new construction is required for the site (purchase), science high school classroom buildings, dormitories, research buildings, gymnasiums, etc. However, Seongnam City chose to convert Bundang Jungang High School into a science high school, utilizing the existing school site, classroom buildings, and gymnasium, thereby significantly reducing the budget.
The total budget required for the establishment of the science high school is expected to be about 85.3 billion KRW, excluding the non-budgeted city-owned land value (10.4 billion KRW), including remodeling costs, extension costs, and contingency funds. Unnecessary expenses will be further reduced through feasibility studies and other measures going forward.
Recently, due to a decrease in the number of students, the education expense budget of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has been reduced, and the matching city budget has also decreased. However, Seongnam City is carefully supporting local students by continuously expanding the education support project budget, including separately allocating an additional 1.5 billion KRW in city funds.
Meanwhile, the science high school budget will be allocated and promoted separately from the general school support budget. The city aims for a future-oriented science high school that raises the quality of education together through the use of science high school facilities (equipment) by general schools, teacher training, and curriculum sharing.
Accordingly, 100 million KRW each is being provided to two autonomous public high schools (Seongnam High School and Pangyo High School), and 8.1 billion KRW is being supported to 156 elementary, middle, high, and special schools for future education support projects such as AI, coding, robotics education, digital competency education, and career and vocational experience education, striving to nurture creative future talents.
Mayor Shin Sang-jin of Seongnam City said, “The science high school that Seongnam City pursues is a future-oriented science high school that raises the overall level of local education and promotes the simultaneous growth of elementary, middle, and high schools in the region,” and added, “As a special city for the 4th Industrial Revolution, we will actively utilize local resources to support growth as global future talents.”
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