Deliberative Body to Be Formed
Final Recommendation to Be Prepared by June
Seongdong-gu in Seoul (Mayor Jung Wonoh) and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will jointly promote public discussion on the relocation and restructuring of schools to foster appropriately sized schools.
On December 30, Jung Wonoh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, and Jung Geunsik, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, announced a joint agreement at the Seongdong-gu District Office to collaborate on public discussion regarding the development of appropriately sized schools in Seongdong-gu. Lee Geungyeon, Director of the Seongdong-Gwangjin Office of Education, was also present.
Seongdong-gu District Office in Seoul announced a joint agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the "Promotion of Public Discussion for the Development of Education in Seongdong-gu." Photo: Right, Jeong Wongo, Mayor of Seongdong-gu; Left, Jeong Geunsik, Superintendent of Education. Provided by Seongdong-gu.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has been pursuing a plan to foster appropriately sized schools through school relocation and restructuring in response to the declining school-age population and the outflow of middle and high school students from Seongdong-gu to other districts. However, consensus has not been reached due to differing opinions among schools, parents, and the local community.
Beginning in January of this year, the two organizations will establish a deliberative body composed of parents, school staff, and local residents. Local residents will be recruited through an open application process, using a fair method such as a lottery. After multiple rounds of discussion, a final recommendation will be prepared by June. The resulting recommendation will be reflected in the policy formulation and implementation procedures of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Jung Geunsik, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "The Office of Education and the Office of Educational Support will work even more actively with Seongdong-gu to ensure that the opinions of residents, parents, and teachers are well collected."
Jung Wonoh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "For more than ten years, we have been discussing the demand for school relocation and restructuring in Seongdong-gu with the Office of Education, but it has been difficult to find a suitable solution. We will actively cooperate with the Office of Education to reach a consensus through the formation of a deliberative body and sufficient discussion."
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