3-term Jo Hee-yeon Emphasizes 'Preventing Educational Regression'... "Special Committee to Restore the Middle Learning Group Activated"

Coexistence Education Transition Committee Launches on the 20th
Special Committee for COVID-19 Aftermath Recovery Established
Communication Channel with Conservative Education Superintendent Candidates Also Created

Jo Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, held a press conference at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 15th and announced the launch of the "3rd Superintendent Coexistence Education Transition Committee."

Jo Hee-yeon, who succeeded in winning a third term as Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent, announced that he will focus on preventing 'educational regression' during his final term. He said he plans to create communication channels with conservative superintendent candidates and activate special committees and school reform promotion teams to restore the collapsed middle layer of learning.

On the 15th, Superintendent Jo held a press briefing at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and revealed these plans. He said, "Voices of concern about educational regression are emerging from various sectors of society, including the education community. There is worry that we might return to an era where industrial talent development is regarded as the top priority of education, ignoring other values, or that children will be pressured and ranked solely by grades." He added, "Returning to an authoritarian, discipline-centered school culture does not fit the education system of South Korea, which has become a developed country. 'High-quality public education' is the only solution, and we will refine comprehensive measures."

The 3rd Term Coexistence Education Transition Committee (Preparatory Committee) will operate for 40 days from the 20th to July 29. The chairperson of the 3rd term launch committee will be Professor Ban Sang-jin of Jeonbuk National University. The committee will select key tasks for Seoul education in the 3rd term and turn pledges into policies. To listen to the shortcomings and areas for improvement in innovative education, they plan to hold a 'Future Education Roundtable (tentative name)' with conservative superintendent candidates such as Jo Jeon-hyeok, Park Seon-young, Jo Young-dal, and Lee Ju-ho. Superintendent Jo said, "Even unofficially, we will have conversations and listen to points we can accept," adding, "If the past eight years were about reform, now we will pursue a path of integrated innovation."

To address and assess the damage students have suffered due to COVID-19, a 'Special Committee for COVID-19 Scars Recovery Education (tentative name)' will be formed. The plan is to comprehensively examine and implement measures not only for academic achievement but also for physical, emotional, social relationships, and community aspects.

The 'School Reform Promotion Team,' which handles mid- to long-term issues related to school sites, will be led by Kang Shin-man, a progressive candidate unified with Superintendent Jo, and will discuss five major tasks including expanding the principal recruitment system, Seoul-type basic academic ability guarantee system, and safe after-school care until 8 p.m. for elementary students.

A coexistence education transition advisory group composed of various figures inside and outside the education sector will be formed, along with 10 subcommittees on education recovery, class evaluation, educational welfare, and more.

As the next chairman of the Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents of Education, Superintendent Jo said, "The 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education will receive significant authority over elementary and secondary education from the Ministry of Education. While individual responses by each office are necessary, I believe there are many common issues." He added, "Gyeonggi Province Superintendent Lim Tae-hee has also taken a progressive stance opposing cuts to elementary and secondary education budgets and opposes the expansion of regular admissions. Since there are many common denominators like this, we will operate in a way that cooperates together while expressing diversity."

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