Jungnang-gu, Why Operate the 'One-Day Public Official Experience' Program for Middle School Students?

[Seoul District News] Jungnang-gu Provides Job Experience in Health, Urban Safety, Urban Agriculture for Students' Career Information... Nowon Math Culture Center Operates Customized Math Counseling Program 'Math Clinic' for Upper Elementary and Middle School Students

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is operating an on-site youth job experience program for middle school students in the area in collaboration with the Jungnang Career and Vocational Experience Support Center.

The youth on-site job experience program is part of a career education curriculum designed to help young people develop their talents and aptitudes through various job experience activities. Starting with first-year students at Yeongran Girls' Middle School on the 29th of last month, the program is scheduled to be conducted for students from eight middle schools in the region until the end of this year.

As one of the programs, the district operates a "One-day Public Official Experience," providing students with an opportunity to specifically experience public service fields at the district office. Students visit departments such as Urban Safety, Urban Agriculture, Parks and Greenery, Civil Affairs and Passports, and the Health Center, where they freely interact and have Q&A sessions with assigned mentor public officials.

In particular, the program plans to deliver vivid on-site experiences to students through tours of the CCTV Integrated Control Center, which operates to protect the safety and property of residents, rooftop garden crop picking experiences, viewing the government building garden, and visits to the Civil Affairs and Passport Department, which issues various documents and plays an essential role in residents' daily lives.

A student who participated in the program said, "It was a great time to learn that public officials do various jobs and to understand how to become a public official in each field."

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, "Although there were many restrictions on on-site job experiences due to COVID-19, from this year, we will strive to expand and support programs so that young people can vividly experience a wider variety of job experiences centered on the field."

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has prepared a special program at the Nowon Mathematics Culture Center to help children enjoy and gain confidence in mathematics through various experiences during the summer vacation.

First is the math exhibition and experience program called "Math Picnic." This program is designed for elementary school students in grades 3 to 6 and consists of theoretical lessons where students understand various mathematical principles by viewing exhibits with explanations from affiliated guides, as well as experiential learning to foster creativity.

The program is divided into two classes: grades 3-4 and grades 5-6. The 3-4 grade class includes programs such as ▲Ancient Numbers ▲Joseon Dynasty Mathematicians ▲Secrets Hidden in Manhole Covers - Making a Regular Polygon Kit. The 5-6 grade class offers experiences such as ▲Rotating Regular Polyhedra ▲Knot Theory - Making a Three-Leaf Knot Frame ▲M?bius Strip. Participants bear part of the material costs (9,000 KRW for grades 3-4, 6,000 KRW for grades 5-6).

The classes run consecutively for four days from August 2 to 5, with the 3-4 grade class held from 2 PM to 4 PM and the 5-6 grade class from 11 AM to 1 PM.

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for 12 students per class from 10 AM on July 14 to 4 PM on July 20 via the Seoul Public Service Reservation website.

Additionally, a customized "Math Clinic" is offered for upper elementary and middle school students who find math challenging. This program, in collaboration with the National Mathematics Teachers Association, provides personalized math learning methods for elementary and middle school students and their parents. The program features student consultations followed by parent consultations.

Elementary school consultation teachers include ▲Jeong Yeon-sook (Seoul Gajaeul Elementary) ▲Lee Jae-young (Seoul Jungdong Elementary) ▲Choi Mira (Seoul Hwaggye Elementary) ▲Kim Nam-jun (Seoul Yongwon Elementary), and middle school consultation teachers include ▲Kang So-young (Jingwan Middle) ▲Jeong Jong-sik (Chung-Ang University Seoul Campus Affiliated Middle) ▲Park Sang-ui (Jangchung Middle) ▲Kim Ho-kyung (Seoul National University College of Education Affiliated High School), who are prepared for consultations.

Consultations will be held at the Nowon Mathematics Culture Center from July 27 to 30, from 2 PM to 5 PM daily, with individual consultation sessions lasting 40 minutes each.

Applications can be made from July 13 to July 26 via the Seoul Public Service Reservation website, and consultations are free of charge. Priority is given to Nowon-gu residents or students and parents attending schools in the area.

The Nowon Mathematics Culture Center, opened in October 2019, is the first math experience learning center established by a basic local government nationwide. It develops and provides various content to make math easy and fun, moving away from problem-solving-based math learning. Last year, a total of 43 students and parents received consultations through the Math Clinic, receiving help to improve their math learning methods.

A survey of 43 participants in last year's Math Picnic showed that 93.1% found the program interesting, and 83.7% said they developed an interest in math, indicating that the center's special programs help dispel the stereotype that math is difficult and contribute to popularizing math.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "I hope children on vacation will fully experience and enjoy activities at the Nowon Mathematics Culture Center that are hard to experience at school," adding, "We will continue to do our best to operate high-quality educational programs that stimulate children's curiosity."

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