Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education, Expresses Commitment to Promoting Jeonnam-style Integrated Elementary and Middle Schools

Superintendent Jang Seok-ung, who announced the active promotion of the operation of the 'Jeonnam-type integrated elementary and middle school.' Photo by Jeonnam Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education of Jeonnam, expressed his determination to actively promote the operation of a new concept of ‘Jeonnam-type Elementary and Middle School Integrated School’ to strengthen the educational capacity of small schools in rural farming and fishing villages.

Superintendent Jang stated this on the morning of the 1st at the September monthly meeting held in the main office’s large conference room, saying, “To overcome the difficult reality of Jeonnam education, we must look far ahead and prepare for the future.”

On that day, Superintendent Jang borrowed Confucius’s words, “If a person does not have long-term concerns, he will have near-term worries (人無遠慮 必有近憂),” expressing concern that “if we do not prepare now, small schools in Jeonnam will not be able to survive independently.”

He said, “So far, various attempts have been made to save small schools, such as operating distinctive programs for each school, improving facilities, and strengthening cooperation with local governments and communities, but these efforts were insufficient. Twenty years ago, 11 integrated elementary-middle and middle-high schools were established in the province, but these were only physical integrations and did not achieve meaningful results.”

He added, “Now is the time to approach from a different perspective and angle,” and “We will actively promote the ‘Elementary and Middle School Integrated School Policy’ that integrates elementary and middle schools with fewer than 30 to 40 students at the township level.”

The ‘Jeonnam-type Elementary and Middle School Integrated School,’ which aims to differentiate itself from existing integrated schools, is centered on innovating spaces in connection with the Ministry of Education’s ‘Green Smart School’ project, ecologically reorganizing schools, and creating complex spaces that work together with villages.

Superintendent Jang said, “If the Ministry of Education revises the related enforcement ordinance by the end of the year, it will be possible for teachers to cross between elementary and middle schools and teach linked curricula,” and predicted, “The integrated elementary and middle schools will become schools everyone wants to attend, and their competitiveness will increase dramatically.”

He expected that by actively introducing Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s ‘Rural Farming and Fishing Village Study Abroad Program’ centered on integrated elementary and middle schools, small schools in Jeonnam would become attractive study abroad destinations amid the COVID-19 situation.

Earlier, on July 21, Superintendent Jang met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye and suggested revising related laws, stating, “The limitations of teacher placement due to the distinction between elementary and secondary teaching certificates, reluctance of multi-certified teachers to take on concurrent positions, and insufficient guidelines for organizing and operating integrated curricula are hindering the operation of integrated schools.”

The Jeonnam Office of Education plans to operate pilot elementary and middle school integrated schools in the first semester of next year, designate 20 schools for preparation, and begin full-scale operation from March 2022.

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