Busan's First Private Alternative School for North Korean Defector Students, 'Jangdaehyeon Middle and High School,' Opens

Busan's first private alternative school, 'Jangdaehyeon Middle and High School,' will hold its opening ceremony at 2 p.m. on the 2nd and begin full-scale academic operations.

The opening ceremony was attended by Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, Kim Do-eup, Member of the National Assembly, Kim Hyeong-chan, Mayor of Gangseo District, students, and faculty members. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, declaration of opening, introduction of a video about Jangdaehyeon Middle and High School, and a congratulatory performance by the Shalom Strings Orchestra.

Participants at the opening ceremony of Jangdaehyeon Middle and High School are cutting the congratulatory ribbon.

The school was designated as a commissioned alternative education institution for North Korean defector students in 2015, and at the 8th graduation ceremony held this February, a total of 24 students have graduated.

In November of last year, it was approved as the fourth alternative school for North Korean defectors nationwide and the only one in the Yeongnam and Honam regions. Starting this year, it operates as a boarding school with two middle school classes, two high school classes, and about 20 enrolled students.

The faculty consists of 41 members in total, including 16 full-time teachers and staff, and 25 part-time instructors and volunteer teachers.

With the approval as an alternative school, students receive regular curriculum classes just like in general schools, and upon graduation, they can enter university without taking the qualification exam (GED).

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to spare no effort in supporting all necessary educational activities for the school’s effective education, including ▲textbook support ▲distribution of learning tablet PCs ▲establishment of an electronic library ▲shared use of general school playgrounds ▲operation of various unification education programs.

Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, said in his congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony, “Our education office will significantly expand support not only for students of Jangdaehyeon Middle and High School but also for all out-of-school youth, creating a detailed educational ladder of hope so that not a single child is excluded from educational services.”

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