Busan Office of Education Launches Customized Education for Multicultural and North Korean Defector Students

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education is set to actively support customized education for multicultural and North Korean defector students.

On the 15th, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education announced the ‘2023 Academic Year Multicultural and North Korean Defector Student Education Support Plan’ to guarantee educational opportunities for multicultural and North Korean defector students and to create an educational environment that respects diversity.

The plan was prepared to improve the entry of multicultural and North Korean defector students into public education and their school adaptability, consisting of three major tasks and nine detailed projects: ▲ Strengthening a systematic and comprehensive educational support foundation ▲ Expanding participation in multicultural education among school members ▲ Enhancing customized educational support for multicultural and North Korean defector students.

To establish a systematic and comprehensive educational support foundation for multicultural and North Korean defector students, the Busan Office of Education has prepared the Busan Multicultural Education Support Center’s ‘Strengthening Public Education Entry Support Program,’ a ‘Public Education Preparation and Guidance Program’ linked with the Multicultural Family Support Center, and a ‘Visiting Multicultural Sensitivity Classroom.’

On the 16th at 11 a.m., Busan City will also sign a business agreement to support children and adolescents who have entered the country mid-way. Through this agreement, systematic support will be provided for their school transfer admission and Korean language education.

To expand participation in multicultural education among school members, multicultural education linked to the curriculum will be activated, multicultural student and parent clubs will be operated, and training to strengthen teachers’ multicultural education capabilities will also be expanded.

Additionally, to support students’ social integration, the ‘Multicultural Harmony Cultural Arts Education Support Project’ will be expanded from 4 elementary schools last year to 5 schools this year.

These schools operate orchestras and traditional Korean music groups together with multicultural and North Korean defector students, seeking ways to enhance multicultural acceptance in frontline schools.

Busan Office of Education.

To strengthen customized educational support, the ‘Korean Language Classes’ will be expanded from 16 schools and 17 classes last year to 17 elementary and middle schools and 18 classes this year, and the ‘Consignment Classes’ will increase from 4 classes last year to 5 classes. In addition, more instructors will be recruited for the Busan Multicultural Education Support Center’s ‘Visiting Korean Language Classroom’ operation.

Furthermore, the ‘University Student Mentoring’ program, which was conducted last year in cooperation with two regional universities to support basic academic skills, Korean language education, and career and college guidance for multicultural students, will be expanded to three regional universities.

In particular, the ‘Stepping Stone Course,’ an admission preparation education program to support multicultural students’ entry into public education and school adaptation, will be newly operated at three elementary schools running Korean language classes in cooperation with the Busan Multicultural Education Support Center.

Additionally, the ‘Multicultural Education Policy Research School’ will be newly operated at one elementary school and one middle school to address academic achievement gaps and strengthen career competencies for multicultural students. Multilingual online content for basic math skill guidance will also be developed and distributed.

Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, said, “Our office operates various policies for multicultural and North Korean defector students, including customized education and multicultural education for school members,” adding, “We will continue to spare no effort to support multicultural and North Korean defector students to grow into future talents.”

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