Public Discussion Launched for New Girls' Middle School in Dong-gu, Incheon

Assemblyman Heo Jongsik Holds Policy Meeting, Discusses New Girls' Middle School with City Education Office
Concern over Population Outflow Due to Lack of Girls' Middle and High Schools in Dong-gu Affecting Children's Education

Incheon Dong-gu Girls' Middle School Establishment Policy Meeting [Photo by Heo Jong-sik's Office]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Public discussion has begun to establish a girls' middle school in Dong-gu, Incheon.

On the 10th, Heo Jongsik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gu Gap), held a 'Policy Meeting on the Establishment of a Girls' Middle School in Dong-gu, Incheon' with the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education at the Dong-gu Office.

Since Bakmun Girls' Middle School relocated to Songdo International City in Yeonsu-gu in 2014, the only middle school in Dong-gu for female students is the coeducational Hwadogin Middle School. Due to this, there is a growing voice in the local community that a girls' middle school must be established to prevent cases of families leaving Dong-gu over education concerns.

At the meeting, two main plans were discussed intensively: relocating Changyeong Elementary School to the elementary school site in the Geumsong Housing Redevelopment Area in Songnim-dong and converting the existing Changyeong Elementary School into a girls' middle school, and converting the coeducational Hwadogin Middle School into a girls' middle school.

Among these, the plan to convert Changyeong Elementary School into a girls' middle school requires social consensus regarding the relocation of Changyeong Elementary School, which holds historical significance as 'Incheon's first public ordinary school.' Concerns were also raised about whether the school building, designated as a cultural asset, can be remodeled into a girls' middle school after relocation.

Representative Heo emphasized, "Securing a site is the top priority to establish a girls' middle school in Dong-gu. It is necessary to closely examine the current status of reconstruction and redevelopment projects underway in Dong-gu, including utilizing public land such as the former Dongbu Police Station site as school land. To build a regional education system that resolves educational imbalance, we must go through public discussion and achieve social consensus beyond institutional and administrative constraints."

An official from the Metropolitan Office of Education said, "Since the quota for new school establishments is insufficient according to the Ministry of Education standards, we are reviewing various options. If the site for the girls' middle school is confirmed and approval from the Ministry of Education is obtained, it will take about three years and six months until the school opens."

Meanwhile, the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education signed a business agreement in March to improve the poor educational environment in the old downtown area of Dong-gu and has started efforts to establish a girls' middle school. Superintendent Do Seonghun also pledged to establish a girls' middle school in Dong-gu during this year's local elections.

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