Jang Seok-woong, Jeonnam Superintendent of Education, Explores Measures to Revitalize Rural Agricultural and Fishing Village Study Abroad Programs

Superintendent Jang Seok-woong visited Omcheon Elementary School and Cheontae Elementary School to promote rural and fishing village study programs. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education of Jeonnam, has actively sought ways to revitalize rural student exchange programs to create new opportunities for Jeonnam education in the 'With Corona era.'

According to the Jeonnam Office of Education on the 11th, Superintendent Jang Seok-woong visited Gangjin Omcheon Elementary School and Hwasun Cheontae Elementary School, which operate the nation's first rural student exchange model, the Mountain Village Student Exchange Center (Omnatgot Student Exchange Center), from the 7th to the 8th to inspect their operations.

Started in 2013, the Omnatgol Student Exchange Center has 13 students from across the country and Vietnam. Omcheon Elementary is equipped with ▲kindergarten ▲after-school care classroom ▲gymnasium ▲cafeteria ▲mountain village student exchange center, and is popular for its differentiated programs such as forest experiences and photo projects with local artists.

Cheontae Elementary, which has attracted 13 students, accounting for 46% of the total 28 students, from urban areas including the metropolitan area through the operation of the rural student exchange center, takes full responsibility until complete learning is achieved through differentiated experiential learning, projects, camps, and active communication with parents.

Cheontae Elementary first shared the idea of a rural student exchange center at a regular meeting of school and social organization heads in 2018, and started together with corporations, institutions, and the village. Next year, it is preparing to operate in the form of a corporation centered on parents.

Superintendent Jang Seok-woong evaluated, "The fact that Omcheon Elementary and Cheontae Elementary overcame the crisis of school closure and transformed into schools that attract students is largely due to the innovative idea of the nation's first rural student exchange center, cooperation from the local community, and the dedication of the faculty and staff," adding, "It is a good example showing the reality that when schools thrive, villages thrive."

He added, "Using this as a model, starting from March next year, we plan to gradually expand the rural student exchange programs in six township-level areas including Suncheon, Gokseong, Gurye, Damyang, Hwasun, and Gangjin."

The Jeonnam Office of Education held a regional briefing session on the rural student exchange program at the Gokseong Children's Job Experience Center on the 5th to revitalize rural student exchange, and in September, held a business consultation with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education for the operation of the rural student exchange program.

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