Gangwon Office of Education Launches Public Survey on Special Act for Revitalizing Closed Schools

Gathering On-Site Opinions from Local Residents and Lessors from December 1 to 19
Gangwon Office of Education Seeks Effective Ways to Utilize Closed Schools as Community Assets

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education announced on November 28 that it will conduct the 'Special Act on the Utilization of Closed Schools' Survey from December 1 to 19 to promote the efficient use of closed school properties.

'Survey on Special Measures for Repurposing Closed Schools' Poster. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Office of Education

This survey aims to transform the steadily increasing number of closed schools, resulting from a declining school-age population, into valuable community assets. It also seeks to lay the institutional groundwork to address the difficulties in utilizing these properties due to current legal and regulatory constraints.

The survey targets local residents, lessors currently leasing closed schools, and staff in charge of related work at the local education support offices. The provincial office plans to listen broadly to the voices of various stakeholders in order to thoroughly identify practical challenges and demands for regulatory improvement in the field.

The survey covers topics such as awareness and satisfaction regarding the use of closed schools, necessary improvements to the current leasing system, and ideas for utilizing closed schools that reflect local characteristics. The survey is conducted online through the Gangwon Education Science Information Institute’s survey and statistics system, accessible via QR code or internet URL, to enhance convenience. Any resident of the province who wishes to participate can access the survey through the provincial office’s website.

The provincial office plans to thoroughly analyze the survey results and use them as key foundational data for developing a 'Special Act on the Utilization of Closed Schools' that reflects regional realities and specific needs.

Kim Namhak, Director of Administration, stated, "A closed school is not simply a building that has shut its doors, but a space filled with the region’s history and memories, and a potential asset for the future. We ask for active interest and participation in the survey so that the vivid opinions of local residents and lessors can be reflected in effective policies."

Meanwhile, in addition to this survey, the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education plans to seek ways to utilize closed schools in cooperation with local governments through meetings with relevant municipal officials. Based on the results of the survey and these meetings, the office intends to prepare a specific special act in the first half of next year and proceed with institutional improvements, including amendments to the relevant Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Special Act.

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