Mapo-gu Supports 'Smart Devices and Online Mentors' in Preparation for Online School Opening

Donation and Rental of Smart Devices for Free Distribution to Needy Students... Online Learning Mentoring Support for Vulnerable Children... Life and Study Management

Children receiving online education at the Mapo-gu Resident Informatization Classroom

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) is promoting the ‘Smart Device Sharing’ and ‘Online Class Mentor Support’ projects to support students' online learning as schools at all levels have shifted to online classes due to COVID-19.

The Smart Device Sharing project involves the district receiving donations or loans of smart devices from local residents and businesses and distributing them free of charge to students in need of remote learning devices.

To this end, the district will accept applications for donations (loans) of laptops and tablet PCs at the Mapo-gu Computer Information Division and 16 local community centers until the 30th of this month.

Eligible smart devices for donation or loan include laptops (13 inches or larger, produced after 2015) and tablet PCs (9.8 inches or larger / Android 5.0 or higher / iOS 7.0 or higher).

The district plans to select and support students from general households facing financial difficulties who are not legally eligible for smart device support.

A district official said, “We ask for active participation from residents and businesses interested in sharing smart devices within the community.”

Alongside this, the district will also promote the Online Class Mentor Support project targeting elementary school children who find it relatively difficult to manage their learning.

For this, the district will first assess the current status of online class guidance at home and provide learning mentors to vulnerable children such as those from grandparent-headed or single-parent families.

Online class mentors will conduct morning calls via phone or text to children, comprehensively supporting regular lifestyle management, learning progress monitoring, and counseling related to online learning.

By the 24th, institutions such as the 16 local community centers, schools, and youth training facilities in Mapo-gu will select vulnerable children eligible for support and recommend them to Mapo-gu. After receiving the recommendations, the district will connect the children with online learning mentors within three days.

Institutions recommending support candidates can download the application form from the Mapo-gu website, complete it, and submit it to the Mapo-gu Education Support Division.

Online learning mentors will be active until May 30.

Mayor Yudonggyun said, “With online school openings, families who cannot afford to care for their children or provide smart devices face new worries. We will do our best to minimize learning gaps through support.”

For inquiries about the Smart Device Sharing project: Mapo-gu Computer Information Division; for inquiries about the Online Class Mentor Support project: Mapo-gu Education Support Division.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.