Kim Kyun-ho, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, "Lifelong Education Policy Needed for Borderline Intellectual Disability"

Published 20 Sep.2023 11:42(KST)

Kim Kyun-ho, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council, announced on the 20th through a 5-minute free speech at the 2nd plenary session during the 314th extraordinary session, urging the “Establishment of Lifelong Education Policies and Ordinances for Borderline Intellectual Functioning.”

Kim Kyun-ho, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, "Lifelong Education Policy Needed for Borderline Intellectual Disability"

“Borderline intellectual functioning” refers to individuals with an average intelligence quotient (IQ) between 71 and 84. Although not as visible as “intellectual disabilities,” those with borderline intellectual functioning experience issues such as “poor memory and language development,” “distractibility,” and “lack of self-expression skills.”

Even after becoming adults, they face complex discrimination and disadvantages throughout their lives, including difficulties in livelihood activities due to social maladjustment and exposure to criminal incidents.

They fall into a blind spot, as they are neither classified as having “intellectual disabilities” with an average IQ of 70 or below, nor as “non-disabled” individuals with an average IQ of 85 or above. Due to the lack of actual condition surveys, they do not receive adequate protection and support from the state and society.

Councilman Kim stated, “According to experts and many opinions, borderline intellectual functioning individuals are estimated to account for about 14% of the total population. If detected early, they can receive professional treatment and customized education tailored to each life cycle stage, enabling them to live without major problems as members of society. Recently, with growing consensus on this issue, related forums, resolutions, and laws have been proposed in the National Assembly, but all are still under committee review, and no agreed-upon laws or related policies exist. Accordingly, more than 50 local governments have proactively enacted ordinances.”

He continued, “In Gwangju as well, the ‘Gwangju Metropolitan City Borderline Intellectual Functioning Student Support Ordinance’ and the ‘Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Borderline Intellectual Functioning Lifelong Education Support Ordinance’ should be enacted together,” proposing the necessity of the ordinances by mentioning ▲ warm welfare that respects human rights ▲ promotion of fair opportunities and social participation ▲ safe and inclusive city.

Furthermore, he stated, “We aim for ‘Gwangju education that does not give up on a single child,’ and this is the greatest reason for establishing lifelong education policies and ordinances for borderline intellectual functioning individuals.”