Solmoe Elementary Becomes Uijeongbu’s First IB World School, Signaling a Leap Toward a Future-Oriented Education City

Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun), attended the 'IB (International Baccalaureate) World School Certification Ceremony' held at Solbit Hall of Solmoe Elementary School on December 3, celebrating the birth of the first IB-certified school in the city.

Mayor Donggeun Kim is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 'IB World School Certification Ceremony' of Solmoe Elementary School on the 3rd. Provided by Uijeongbu City

After being designated as an IB Interested School in 2023 and progressing to Candidate School status in 2024, Solmoe Elementary officially obtained certification from the International Baccalaureate Organization this November. The school met a variety of evaluation criteria, including curriculum management, classroom innovation, and learning environment, during the on-site inspection by the IB headquarters.

This marks the first IB World School certification across all elementary, middle, and high schools in Uijeongbu, and is regarded as a significant achievement that concretely sets the direction for the region’s future education.

The ceremony was attended by Mayor Kim Donggeun, the Superintendent of Uijeongbu Office of Education, officials from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, and principals from local elementary, middle, and high schools. The event included presentations on IB implementation cases and the unveiling of the certification plaque.

Over the past three years, Solmoe Elementary has continuously pursued educational innovation aligned with the IB philosophy, such as expanding collaborative teaching among teachers, implementing inquiry-based learning programs, and establishing student-led assessments. Active participation by parents and positive changes among students have also been highly praised.

In his congratulatory speech, Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "The IB World School certification for Solmoe Elementary is a great source of pride for Uijeongbu education and an important turning point toward future-oriented learning. The city will actively support school operations so that the core values of IB education-such as inquiry, communication, empathy, and responsibility-can become essential competencies for our children."

Mayor Kim Donggeun unveiled the certification plaque with attendees at the 'IB World School Certification Ceremony' at Solmoe Elementary School on the 3rd. Provided by Uijeongbu City

IB education goes beyond simple knowledge delivery, focusing on encouraging students to ask questions and solve problems independently, understand diverse perspectives, and develop a sense of responsibility as members of the community and global citizens.

With this certification of Solmoe Elementary as a starting point, the city plans to continue supporting the expansion of IB Interested and Candidate Schools, strengthening teacher capabilities, and improving the educational environment to spread the IB-based education model.

In particular, the city is considering introducing the IB Diploma Programme (DP) at Gosang High School, which is scheduled to open in 2027. In the long term, the city aims to strengthen the regional future education ecosystem by establishing an integrated IB education system that connects elementary, middle, and high schools.

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