Gumi Wondang Elementary Becomes First IB Candidate School in Gyeongbuk... Focus on Self-Directed Learning and Critical Thinking

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jong-sik) announced on June 11, 2025, that Gumi Wondang Elementary School has become the first school in the Gyeongbuk region to be officially approved as a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB).

The IB program is a globally recognized curriculum that emphasizes student-centered, inquiry-based learning to foster self-directed learning skills, critical thinking, and international mindedness.

Classroom Scene at Gumi Wondang Elementary School

With this approval, Gumi Wondang Elementary School plans to fully implement the IB educational philosophy in its classrooms and accelerate its efforts to nurture creative talents equipped with future-ready competencies.

In particular, Gumi Wondang Elementary School is focusing on operating teacher learning communities to integrate curriculum and instruction. By cultivating a culture where teachers collaboratively explore and design lessons, the school is naturally achieving instructional innovation rooted in the IB philosophy. This approach aligns with the core direction of the Gyeongbuk-style IB model, which aims to realize student-centered education.

Jang Gye-young, principal of Gumi Wondang Elementary School, stated, "With a sense of responsibility as the first IB candidate school in Gyeongbuk, we will create an educational environment where both students and teachers learn and grow together," adding, "We will continue to do our best to nurture creative and internationally minded talents."

Meanwhile, with the approval of this candidate school, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education now operates 40 IB inquiry schools, 9 interested schools, and 1 candidate school in the province. Based on the IB educational philosophy, the office continues to provide various forms of support to promote student-led instruction and assessment, as well as to enhance teacher professionalism.

Gumi Wondang Elementary School

Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of Gyeongbuk Office of Education, said, "The approval of Gumi Wondang Elementary School as an IB candidate school will serve as an important turning point in establishing and expanding the Gyeongbuk-style IB education model," and added, "We will actively support more schools so they can realize the IB philosophy in the future."

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