Gangwon Office of Education to Hold "2025 Better Small School Admission and Transfer Information Session" on the 25th

Gangwon Provincial Office of Education to Hold Sequential Events in Five Regions Starting with Wonju
Large-Scale Promotion of Exemplary Small School Curricula

The Gangwon Provincial Office of Education (Superintendent Shin Kyungho) will hold the "2025 Wonju Better Small School Admission and Transfer Information Session" at the Wonju Sports Complex on October 25.

A view of the Gangwon Provincial Office of Education. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Office of Education

This information session has been organized to promote the unique curricula and exemplary cases of small schools to students, parents, and the local community, as well as to help maintain an appropriate number of students and enhance the quality of educational programs.

The number of small schools in the province with 60 or fewer enrolled students increased from 180 in 2024 to 191 in 2025, an increase of 11 schools. In addition, there are 238 elementary schools with 100 or fewer students, accounting for about 70% of all elementary schools in the province. As the student population continues to decline, the proportion of small schools is expected to increase further.

The "Better Small School Admission and Transfer Information Session" will feature a variety of participatory programs.

The programs will include: △ a "local festival-linked" model for building educational communities that coexist with the local area; △ a "bus tour" model where students and parents can directly visit schools; and △ an "experience booth" model that provides an overview of the curricula of small schools in the region, among other diverse formats.

On-site, practical information will also be provided, such as △ understanding the small school curriculum; △ guidance on the school district expansion system; and △ administrative information on commuting support, to assist with admissions and transfers.

The "2025 Better Small School Admission and Transfer Information Session" will begin in Wonju on the 25th and will be held sequentially in five regions, including Chuncheon, Gangneung, Sokcho-Yangyang, and Goseong.

Starting with a pilot operation in Wonju in 2023, the program was expanded to three regions-Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung-in 2024. There are plans to further expand to seven regions through a regional application process in 2026.

The Gangwon Provincial Office of Education is implementing various policies to leverage the strengths of small schools and create "small schools that students want to attend and stay in," in response to the era of low birth rates and an aging population.

To support the operation of unique small school curricula, the office is supporting 178 schools with the "Better Small School Curriculum Branding" program, 10 model schools for curriculum branding, and 2 schools operating joint small school curricula.

In addition, the office is conducting the "Better Small School Curriculum Branding Consulting" project for 70 small schools in the province to strengthen each school's unique characteristics and educational capabilities.

On November 7, there will be a special lecture by Cho Youngtae, Director of the Population Policy Research Center at Seoul National University, titled "How Does Population Change the Future (of Education)?" along with a session to share exemplary cases of small school curriculum branding operations.

Tak Jinwon, Director of the Early Childhood and Elementary Education Division, stated, "Small schools are at the heart of the local community, and cooperation within the educational community is key to a school's competitiveness." He added, "We will establish a cooperative system involving the local community, schools, and the education office to create small schools that satisfy students, parents, and staff alike."