Superintendent Im Taehee: "Let Us Look Beyond Confrontation and Conflict in Education"

'Gyeonggi-Seoul Student Debate' Concludes Successfully Based on the Voetelsbach Agreement
Students from Gyeonggi and Seoul Engage in Heated Discussions on the Future of the College Scholastic Ability Test
Aiming for Mutual Understanding and Joint Solutions Through a Debate Model Focused on Coexistence

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education (Superintendent Im Taehee) successfully concluded the 'Gyeonggi-Seoul Student Debate' based on the Voetelsbach Agreement, held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on August 20.

Im Taehee, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, is conducting the 'Gyeonggi-Seoul Student Debate' based on the Boitelspach Agreement held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 20th. Provided by Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education

This debate focused on whether to maintain or abolish the College Scholastic Ability Test, with representative high school students from the Gyeonggi and Seoul regions engaging in passionate discussions.

More than 100 people attended the debate, including Im Taehee, Superintendent of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education; Jeong Geunsik, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education; Kim Youngho, Chairman of the National Assembly's Education Committee; and middle and high school students from each region.

The students were divided into teams for and against the topic, and completed the debate through a first round, a second round, a session called 'Arguing for Coexistence,' and a 'Consensus Building' process.

Superintendent Im Taehee stayed from the beginning to the end of the debate, attentively listening to the students' discussions.

Superintendent Im highly praised the students, saying, "The dignity of today's debate was found in listening and respect," and added, "The Gyeonggi and Seoul students gathered at the National Assembly demonstrated the 'power of dialogue' and the 'path to consensus,' which are increasingly being forgotten in our society."

He continued, "The students listened to different opinions until the end, considered the issue from alternative perspectives, and worked to narrow their differences. It is meaningful that they tried to find solutions together, rather than simply determining a winner and a loser."

Superintendent Im urged, "I hope students will continue to seek the essence of democracy through dialogue and consensus, as shown in today's debate," and emphasized, "Let us look beyond confrontation and conflict, at least when it comes to education."