Neulbom School Introduced in About 2,700 Places in 1st Semester... List Released Before and After Seol Holiday (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Education to Announce Neulbom School Promotion Plan on the 5th
About 2,700 Schools in 1st Semester, Nationwide Expansion in 2nd Semester
Government Officials to Share Workload Amid Teacher Burden Concerns
"Safety Accident Prevention Measures Fully Managed by Neulbom System"

The 'Neulbom School' program, which provides an integrated care and education program for a certain period after classes at elementary schools, will be introduced to all elementary schools nationwide in the second semester, starting with about 2,700 schools across the country in the first semester this year. The list of schools where Neulbom School will be introduced in the first semester is expected to be announced around the Lunar New Year holiday. The government plans to resolve concerns raised at the frontline, such as workload burdens, through administrative support.

On the 5th, the Ministry of Education announced the 'Neulbom School Promotion Plan' through a briefing by Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, following the 'Public Livelihood Discussion with the People' presided over by President Yoon Seok-yeol. Deputy Prime Minister Lee stated, "We are promoting the introduction of Neulbom School in about 2,700 schools in the first semester this year," and added, "We will sequentially announce the schools that will operate Neulbom in the first semester, starting with the prepared metropolitan and provincial offices of education."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Neulbom School is a comprehensive educational program centered around schools outside of regular classes. Unlike the existing after-school and care system in elementary schools, which had priority in applications, Neulbom School has no application priority, lottery, or rejection. It is effectively a system that 'anyone can use.' Once Neulbom School is introduced, the previously fragmented after-school and care programs in elementary schools will be integrated into one system. Regarding operating hours, they will be extended compared to the existing after-school and care system. It is planned to operate from morning or after regular classes until the desired time (up to 8 p.m.), and student and parent demand surveys will be conducted and reflected.

2,700 Neulbom Schools in the First Semester... Ministry of Education Conducts Weekly Practical Inspections

According to the Ministry of Education, after about 2,700 schools in the first semester, Neulbom School will start in all elementary schools nationwide in the second semester. It will be introduced to all grades by 2026. To this end, a phased expansion plan will be implemented, and next year, the operation range is expected to extend up to the second grade. Kim Cheon-hong, Director of the Education Welfare and Care Support Bureau at the Ministry of Education, said, "We are currently checking the level of school preparation and will announce the list of prepared schools by metropolitan and provincial offices of education," adding, "The announcement timing will be around the Lunar New Year holiday."

From this year, first graders using Neulbom School will also receive customized programs free of charge for two hours daily. After receiving two hours of free classes starting around 1 p.m. when regular classes end, if care is still needed, they can take paid Neulbom programs.

With the full implementation of Neulbom School, school space will be expanded, and various educational resources outside of schools, such as local governments and communities, will also be utilized. 'Hub-type Neulbom Centers' will be designated to respond to the demand for Neulbom School in oversized and overcrowded schools, and spaces within universities or apartment complexes can also take charge of Neulbom programs.

The Ministry of Education plans to assign personnel responsible for each metropolitan and provincial office of education and inspect practical processes until the school opening in March. Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "We will designate Ministry of Education officials in charge for each metropolitan and provincial office of education and check the progress weekly," adding, "We will actively support the on-site settlement of Neulbom School by working closely with the offices of education."

Placement of Fixed-term Teachers and Practical Staff... Concerns Remain Over 'Who Is Responsible If Accidents or School Violence Occur'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Education emphasizes the principle of simultaneously promoting policies to alleviate teachers' administrative burdens related to Neulbom School as it is introduced nationwide, addressing concerns about resistance from some teachers due to administrative workload. In the first semester, 2,250 fixed-term teachers will be assigned, and in the second semester, about 6,000 Neulbom practical staff will be deployed to transfer all after-school and care duties previously handled by teachers. Neulbom practical staff will be autonomously operated according to the conditions of each metropolitan and provincial office of education, including civil servants, public employees, short-term contract workers, and retired teachers.

By 2025, a dedicated Neulbom Support Office for Neulbom School will be established in schools, and in large schools with many students, local government officials will serve as heads of the Neulbom Support Office. The Ministry of Education aims to assign about 2,500 Neulbom Support Office heads and plans to increase and expand the total personnel budget for local government officials accordingly.

However, with less than a month left before the new semester starts, concerns have been raised that if fixed-term teachers are not hired up to the target number, existing teachers will ultimately have to take on the duties. There are also criticisms that if safety accidents or school violence issues occur during Neulbom programs, the responsibility will ultimately fall on the teachers. The Elementary School Teachers' Union issued a statement on the day, saying, "The management and responsibility for safety accidents and school violence incidents that occur while students are at Neulbom School are not clear. If homeroom teachers have to handle and take responsibility for these matters, then operating Neulbom School separately from teachers is just empty talk."

In response, the Ministry of Education said that the hiring of fixed-term teachers could be completed by mid-February. Director Kim said, "A significant portion has already been hired, and we expect all 2,250 to be hired by mid-February." Regarding criticism that the number of fixed-term teachers assigned by the Ministry of Education is insufficient compared to the approximately 2,700 Neulbom Schools expected, he explained, "Many of these are small schools. In such schools, practical staff such as after-school coordinators are often already assigned. Combining fixed-term teachers and practical staff will allow for sufficient operation."

Regarding safety accidents and school violence issues during Neulbom School programs, he said, "Various measures to prevent safety accidents will be managed by a dedicated Neulbom Support system once it is established, minimizing the burden on teachers." Compensation for safety accidents will be handled under the School Safety Mutual Aid Act. Director Kim explained about school violence, "It will be handled according to the school violence case handling manual," adding, "The process of handling it is the same as before."

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