Buk-gu Gwangju Allocates 100 Million Won to Lifelong Learning for Persons with Disabilities, Supporting Independence

Selected for Ministry of Education Project Five Years in a Row
17 Programs Including Sign Language Interpreter Training
Collaboration with 29 Specialized Institutions

Exterior view of Buk-gu Office, Gwangju. Provided by Buk-gu Office, Gwangju

Buk-gu District in Gwangju Metropolitan City is set to fully launch the "2026 Lifelong Learning City Program for Persons with Disabilities," which aims to break down the boundaries between people with and without disabilities and foster inclusive growth.

According to Buk-gu District on March 17, the district has been selected for the fifth consecutive year for a public contest project hosted by the Ministry of Education’s National Institute of Special Education. As a result, it has secured 40 million won in state funding and will allocate a total budget of 100 million won toward specialized education programs for persons with disabilities.

This initiative is designed to reflect the learning needs of persons with disabilities, strengthen their capacity for independence, and expand their participation in the local community. The curriculum consists of 17 detailed programs across four key areas: ▲Human Resources Activation ▲Local Resources Activation ▲Personal Interest Exploration ▲Community Exchange Activation.

In particular, this year’s program emphasizes building practical social participation skills by encouraging communication between people with and without disabilities. Notable examples include training courses to obtain professional certifications such as "Native Crop Manager" and "Sign Language Interpreter."

Additionally, the district will run economic empowerment programs in partnership with local small businesses, enabling participants to engage directly in activities from food and merchandise production to sales. There will also be training to enhance digital and AI technology skills for persons with disabilities, including video shooting and editing, as well as e-book voice recording.

To enhance program expertise, Buk-gu District plans to actively utilize its established collaboration network with 29 lifelong learning institutions in the area, including comprehensive social welfare centers and university lifelong education centers.

A Buk-gu District official stated, "We hope this project will offer opportunities for learning and growth to persons with disabilities and help them take root in the community," adding, "We will continue to do our best to guarantee lifelong learning rights for persons with disabilities through high-quality educational programs."

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