Gumi Bonggok Elementary School Officially Approved as IB Candidate School... Four IB Candidate Schools in North Gyeongsang

The North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jongshik) announced on September 19 that Gumi Bonggok Elementary School has been officially approved as an International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate school.

This achievement is the result of teachers, students, and parents studying the IB educational philosophy together, beginning with the school’s designation as an IB interested school on March 1, 2025.

Gumi Bonggok Elementary School Finally Approved as an International Baccalaureate Candidate School

Based on its experience as a Creative School and Gyeongbuk Future School since September 2015, where it has researched project-based learning, Gumi Bonggok Elementary School has completed preparations to successfully introduce the IB educational program.

The IB candidate school status is a step toward becoming a fully authorized IB World School. Over the course of approximately two to three years, the school will go through a process of improving its curriculum, teaching methods, assessment systems, and teacher training to meet IB standards.

Going forward, the school plans to deeply embed the philosophy and values of IB education within the school community, fostering students’ holistic growth with international awareness, and ultimately aims to achieve IB World School authorization.

Notably, Gumi Bonggok Elementary School’s approval as an IB candidate school is a significant achievement, as it accelerates the North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education’s roadmap-originally aiming to operate three candidate schools by 2026-by more than a year. Currently, a total of four schools-Gumi Wondang Elementary School, Daegu National University of Education Andong Attached Elementary School, Dongsan Girls’ Middle School, and now Gumi Bonggok Elementary School-are operating as IB candidate schools. As more interested schools prepare to apply for candidate status, the expansion of the Gyeongbuk-style IB education model is expected to accelerate further.

Principal Hong Sooncheon of Gumi Bonggok Elementary School stated, “We will do our utmost to foster a school culture and environment that supports the establishment of the Gyeongbuk-style IB program, and to nurture students’ holistic growth and critical thinking skills.”

Superintendent Lim Jongshik said, “The achievement of Gumi Bonggok Elementary School’s approval as an IB candidate school is the result of collaboration among teachers, students, and parents. The North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education will continue to ensure the stable implementation of the IB educational program, and actively support our children so they can grow into talented individuals with both global competence and character, capable of leading the future society.”

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