Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, 'Lowest Participation Rate', Launches Additional Recruitment for Neulbom School

Participation Rate of Neulbom School at 6%
Field Staff and Program Expansion Underway
Additional 44 Billion Won Secured for Space Budget

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, which had low participation rates in Neulbom School, is launching additional recruitment for Neulbom School. To this end, it plans to expand on-site support personnel and additionally operate care-linked educational programs.

On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced in a press release, "We have secured budgets and personnel to support up to 150 schools, including the 38 schools currently applied for Neulbom School, and schools wishing to participate can apply additionally at any time."

According to the '2024 Seoul-style Neulbom School Operation Plan' disclosed by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 16th, 38 elementary schools expressed their intention to participate in Neulbom School from the first semester, resulting in a participation rate of only 6.3%. As the participation rate in Neulbom School in the Seoul area was recorded as the lowest nationwide, some raised concerns that the education office might lack commitment.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated, "Additional applicant schools will be assigned dedicated personnel for program operation, just like the schools confirmed for operation in the first half of the year, and short-term administrative support personnel will be additionally provided. Customized on-site support will be implemented to ensure smooth program operation." It explained that it has formed a 35-member on-site support team centered on officials from the headquarters and 11 education support offices.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition, it plans to operate an additional 'care-linked educational program.' By combining the existing after-school care and after-school programs, it will provide a 2-hour free after-school program and 1 hour of additional care. A demand survey will be conducted in February, and operation will begin in March for schools that wish to participate.

Additional spaces will also be prepared for the implementation of Neulbom School. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained, "Since Neulbom School is scheduled to be operated in all elementary schools nationwide in the second semester, we are preparing facility improvement plans to enhance program operation spaces and support grade-level research rooms ahead of full implementation," adding, "We plan to secure an additional budget of about 44 billion KRW to support this."

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "We will establish a permanent support system for Neulbom School operation to identify difficulties faced by schools operating in the first half of the year and make immediate countermeasures to ensure smooth full-scale implementation in the second semester, and we will do our best to achieve this."

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