Candidate Sungki Kwon Announces Major Shift in Disability Education with 'Inclusive Education Innovation'

Building an Integrated Educational Welfare System
Where Students with Disabilities and Their Families Grow Together

Sungki Kwon, a preliminary candidate for Superintendent of Education in Gyeongnam Province, announced his education pledges for students with disabilities on April 23, promising to prioritize inclusive education innovation to foster an educational environment where students with disabilities and their families are respected, and no one is excluded.

Sungki Kwon, candidate for the Superintendent of Education in Gyeongnam Province.
Photo by Sungki Kwon

In a press release that day, Kwon stated, "People with disabilities are precious members of our society whom we must all embrace," adding, "We will recognize differences but ensure education without discrimination, and realize an education where care and support are truly present."

First, Kwon pledged to make 'disability awareness education' mandatory and regular throughout the entire educational community, including students, faculty, and parents.

Through this initiative, he aims to spread accurate understanding of disabilities and naturally establish a culture of respect and coexistence at schools.

Additionally, Kwon plans to significantly expand special schools and special classes, particularly in major areas such as Changwon, Gimhae, Yangsan, Jinju, and Geoje, in order to address issues of overcrowding.

Furthermore, he will simultaneously promote customized curricula tailored to the type and degree of disability, establish a system linking treatment and rehabilitation, and improve the safety of the learning environment.

To enhance the quality of special education, Kwon will adjust the number of students assigned to each teacher to reflect real-world conditions.

In particular, for students with severe disabilities, he will reduce the current standard (four students per teacher in kindergarten, six in elementary and middle school, and seven in high school) to two students each. He will also expand the placement of special education assistant staff and therapy support personnel to strengthen individualized education.

In addition, Kwon plans to strictly comply with the mandatory employment ratio of persons with disabilities in the Gyeongnam Office of Education and its affiliated institutions. He will institutionalize the preferential purchase of products made by people with disabilities and collaborate with various related organizations, including businesses and hospitals, to support employment and independence for people with disabilities.

Support in the fields of culture, arts, and career development will also be expanded. Kwon will establish a Gyeongnam Office of Education orchestra for people with disabilities and support the creation of a social enterprise where students with disabilities and their parents participate as shareholders and members, thereby building a self-reliant job model that continues even after graduation.

In addition, to ensure the right to mobility and learning for students with disabilities, Kwon will strengthen support for school transportation and expand the distribution of smart assistive devices and digital learning environments.

Kwon also stated, "Through cooperation with the neighboring Busan Office of Education, we will break down educational barriers, and by signing memorandums of understanding and other agreements, we will establish an inter-regional educational cooperation system so that students with disabilities in Gyeongnam can choose and commute to special schools in nearby Busan."

Furthermore, Kwon will establish an integrated support system connecting medical, welfare, and educational services to provide continuous support for growth even outside of school.

Kwon emphasized, "'Inclusive education innovation' for students with disabilities is not an option but an essential task for the future," adding, "I will make Gyeongnam a model of the warmest and fairest education in the country."

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