Jeong Seok-woong, Jeonnam Superintendent of Education New Year's Address: "Dreaming of the First Year of Future Education in Jeonnam"

Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam, delivered a New Year's address through a non-face-to-face press briefing on the 29th. 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 New Year's determination, saying, "I will make this the 'first year of sustainable future education' that remains unwavering in any crisis, becoming the hope of Jeonnam education in the post-COVID-19 era and establishing a new standard."

On the 29th, Superintendent Jang Seok-woong presented the vision and key tasks for Jeonnam education in the coming year through a New Year's press conference held in the second-floor press room of the Provincial Office of Education. The briefing was conducted non-face-to-face to prevent COVID-19 infection and was broadcast live via the Jeonnam Education YouTube channel.

Superintendent Jang stated, "Next year, through 'people-centered education,' we will enhance fairness and inclusiveness so that all children in Jeonnam can learn more joyfully and grow healthily," and presented five policy tasks.

First, to cultivate confident students who enjoy learning through future class innovation, he plans to strongly promote ▲responsible education for basic academic skills ▲establishment of future-oriented edutech ▲innovation in hybrid online and offline classes.

In particular, by establishing integrated elementary, middle, and high schools and Green Smart Future Schools, the foundation for nurturing future talents will be strengthened. Additionally, the 'Rural Study Abroad Program,' which leverages the strengths of small schools, will be operated to revitalize small schools and villages.

Furthermore, to foster a sense of peace and the value of coexistence and to respond to the climate change crisis, ecological environmental education will be strengthened, and a large-scale infectious disease 'constant crisis response system' will be established to create safe schools where everyone is an owner.

Moreover, to implement warm and transparent administration centered on school sites, the Provincial Office of Education and its sprawling organizations will be reorganized, personnel system innovations will continue, and integrity levels will be drastically improved.

Along with this, the plan is to realize a Jeonnam ecosystem where autonomy and cooperation breathe through expanding parental and local residents' participation in school and regional education, expanding village education communities, and strengthening cooperative systems with local communities.

Superintendent Jang recalled, "This year, amid the painful situation caused by COVID-19, we carried the heavy burden of remote classes, life guidance, quarantine, and care with the belief that children's learning and safety must be protected, passing through the tunnel of hardship."

He continued, "The remote and in-person classes, which were a concern, were conducted without major disruptions, and by operating a rapid and meticulous quarantine system, infections among students and staff were minimized," evaluating the efforts.

He cited major achievements this year, including ▲development of the 'Jeonnam Classroom ON.com' class platform ▲eco-friendly agricultural and marine product package project ▲basic academic skills dedicated teacher system ▲reduction of the number of students per class in lower elementary grades ▲creative science education and operation of software centers.

Superintendent Jang expressed his New Year's hope, saying, "We do not know how long COVID-19 will continue, but the longer the darkness, the more brilliantly dawn approaches. Do not hesitate thinking it is a pathless darkness; if you walk with earnest desire, I believe we will all arrive at the first dawn of Jeonnam's shining future education."

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