[New Year Interview] Kim Dae-jung, Jeonnam Superintendent of Education, "Glocal Education Starts in Jeonnam"

Nationwide First Implementation of 'Student Education Allowance' to be Paid from March

'2024 Korea Glocal Education Expo' Held in Yeosu

"In the hopeful year of 2024, we will achieve a transparent Jeonnam education, realize glocal education, and fully open the future of Jeonnam education through the payment of student education allowances."

Kim Dae-jung, the 4th-term elected Superintendent of Jeonnam Education, stated this in a New Year's interview with Asia Economy on the 12th.

Superintendent Kim said, "According to the 2023 Public Institution Integrity Survey results announced last year by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the Jeonnam Office of Education received a grade 2, two levels higher than the previous year," adding, "Among the 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education, none received a grade 1, so this is effectively the highest rating."

He continued, "In the past, the Jeonnam Office of Education caused great disappointment to the education community and residents due to low integrity ratings. Now, we can proudly say 'Transparent Jeonnam Education,'" and promised, "I am grateful to the dedicated teachers and education community who worked hard for this, and we will continue to strive to be a trusted Jeonnam education."

Former Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Kim Dae-jung

Superintendent Kim presented the key educational policies to be promoted in 2024 as ▲ 'Customized Education' to restore the basics of education ▲ 'Building an Educational Ecosystem' that coexists with the local community ▲ 'Global Education' that communicates with diverse cultures.

To this end, the provincial education office plans to support integrated reading, discussion, and writing enhancement, as well as customized learning using AI. They will strengthen the Jeonnam curriculum and climate change environmental education, lead the payment of Jeonnam student education allowances, and solidify the operation of the public-private-industry-academia education cooperation committee.

For global education, they will promote multilingual education, enhance cultural diversity education, expand international exchanges, and establish the (tentatively named) Jeonnam International Vocational High School. Among the pledges, Superintendent Kim cited the 'Great Transformation of Jeonnam Education' as one of the major achievements.

Since taking office, he has set the 'Great Transformation of Jeonnam Education' as a major direction and promoted ▲ coexistence classrooms ▲ reading and humanities education ▲ multicultural-friendly education ▲ climate and environmental education.

Superintendent Kim said, "When we say 'great transformation,' people think of big changes, but in education, great transformation means returning to the basics," adding, "This is the main reason why the 4th term Jeonnam education has focused on creating 'schools that study.'"

He especially evaluated the payment of Jeonnam student education allowances, implemented for the first time nationwide, and the hosting of the '2024 Korea Glocal Future Education Expo' last year as the greatest achievements.

He explained, "The student education allowance will begin in March this year, providing allowances for elementary students in 22 cities and counties in the province for 12 months," and added, "Elementary students in 16 counties designated as regions at risk of regional extinction will receive 100,000 KRW per month, totaling 1.2 million KRW annually, while elementary students in six cities and counties including Muan, Naju, Mokpo, Suncheon, Gwangyang, and Yeosu will receive 50,000 KRW per month, totaling 600,000 KRW annually, paid monthly as voucher card points."

Students can use the points to purchase books and reference materials, attend cultural and artistic performances, and watch sports games. However, due to the characteristics of rural fishing villages, there are restrictions on usage locations, so efforts will be made to enable usage in cities such as Seoul and Gwangju in the future.

He also expressed great expectations for the '2024 Korea Glocal Education Expo.'

Superintendent Kim said, "The '2024 Korea Glocal Future Education Expo,' held for five days from May 29 to June 2 at the Yeosu World Expo site, will be organized as a place to concretely present future education models in reality in the era of digital transformation," explaining, "The main theme running through the expo is set as 'Education of Coexistence, Sustainable Future.'"

The Glocal Future Education Expo will be divided into sections such as academic events, exhibitions, future classroom operation halls, and cultural and artistic exchanges. It will consist of the Korea Education Pavilion, where government agencies and 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education participate, the EduTech Valley with corporate participation, and the International Education Pavilion with participation from 25 countries.

Superintendent Kim said, "The killer content of the expo is a preview of future schools," adding, "The future classroom operation hall will present one class each for elementary, middle, and high schools as a model of what will unfold in 2030."

He continued, "The Glocal Future Education Expo is the first step toward 'Education of Coexistence, Sustainable Future.' We have put great effort into creating networking that will continue to operate even after the expo ends," expressing confidence, "At this expo, we will announce the establishment of the 'Glocal Superintendents Network' to share the vision for future education and ensure continuous educational network activities."

To respect learning rights and teacher authority in 'coexistence classrooms' and provide customized education, they will expand support for ▲ digital device learning ▲ activation of J-MOOC ▲ reading, discussion, and writing classes ▲ student-led classes ▲ AI-based customized classes.

The 'Coexistence Waterway Yeong·San·River Project' will be expanded from the existing 155 teams to 300 teams, and in cooperation with the local community through the public-private-industry-academia education cooperation committee, they plan to establish an educational foundation for small schools.

Additionally, for students with migration backgrounds, they revealed plans to strengthen ▲ multicultural education ▲ cultural diversity harmony festivals and cultural arts clubs ▲ support for specialized programs at the education support office level to enhance cultural diversity education.

To improve educational conditions in small schools, they will operate ▲ regionally tailored characteristic program support ▲ development and mid-to-long-term support for Jeonnam-type small school specialization models (within 10 schools) ▲ student-customized programs and rural cultural arts education support.

Superintendent Kim said, "The biggest issue in Jeonnam education is saving small schools. To develop small schools as future school models, we have implemented policies to strengthen small school educational capacity, attract and retain school-age populations, and enhance educational cooperation systems," adding, "We will strengthen solidarity and cooperation among small schools and actively promote joint curriculum operation."

He added, "The Ministry of Education's pilot project for educational development special zones will be fully launched this year. The provincial education office is preparing by planning regionally tailored contest strategies," and said, "We will actively participate in the educational development special zone project contest to overcome the regional extinction crisis and make Jeonnam a vibrant place where talent gathers."

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