Increasing Public Education Access for 'Miju Background Youth' Who Entered Midway

Principal Approval → Allocation by City/County Superintendent
18th Multicultural Family Policy Committee Deliberation

The above photo is not related to the article. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The method of entering public education for 'migrant background youth' who immigrated mid-way after living abroad will change from individual school principal approval to assignment by the district education superintendent.

On the 26th, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun held the 18th Multicultural Family Policy Committee meeting at the Government Seoul Office, where he reviewed and announced plans to strengthen support for migrant background children and youth and the 2020 multicultural family policy implementation plan, which includes this change.

There are approximately 547,000 migrant background children and youth from diverse environments, among whom the rate of not attending school reaches 30%. Nearly half of the cases take more than six months for school admission. This is attributed to the current system where youth and parents themselves check for vacancies at their residential schools, apply for admission to the principal, and the principal grants approval. To improve this, the admission application process will change so that applications are submitted to the education superintendent of the education support office instead of the principal. The superintendent will assign schools considering local vacancies, and principals will not be able to refuse these assignments. Additionally, the Academic Review Committee, which determines the grade level for mid-way immigrant youth, will expand its members from 7 to 30, and the number of preparatory education classes called the 'Stepping Stone Course' and intensive Korean language classes will increase.

Admission guidance materials will also be provided in 13 languages to ensure access to various services. A 'Remote Video Career Mentoring' program will be operated, featuring naturalized outstanding talents as mentors. Furthermore, social participation support policies for marriage immigrants will be expanded. The government will train marriage immigrants proficient in both Korean and their native languages as bilingual coaches and multicultural counselors. Especially in Ansan and Hwaseong, where there are many multicultural family youth, a pilot project for an integrated comprehensive support model involving public, private, and academic sectors will be conducted to provide Korean language education, psychological counseling, career education, and employment support.

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