Songpa District Resumes "On-Site Support for Slow Learners" Program

98% Parent Satisfaction Last Year

Coaching Resumes in May

Starting in May, Songpa District in Seoul will continue its "On-Site Support for Slow Learners" program in collaboration with the Gangdong Songpa Office of Education's Learning Diagnosis and Growth Center. This initiative, which was first launched last year, follows its successful results, such as achieving a 98% satisfaction rate among parents.

Photo of education for slow learners conducted at an elementary school last year. Provided by Songpa-gu.

Last year, Songpa District provided 1,410 individual coaching sessions and over 180 counseling sessions for about 80 slow learners across 31 elementary schools in the district. Pre- and post-program basic academic ability assessments showed that 87% of participating students improved their reading and math skills. Songpa District analyzed that the operation method, which combined customized coaching with emotional support tailored to each student's level, proved effective.

Slow learners are students who develop vocabulary, comprehension, and social skills more slowly than their peers, and accumulated learning difficulties can make it harder for them to adapt to school life. For students at risk of borderline intellectual functioning, the rate of not meeting basic academic standards is high, so the need for customized support has been consistently raised.

This year, Songpa District will form the "Songpa Learn Coaching Team," mainly consisting of specialists in education and counseling, and will strengthen coaching skills through special education expert training. The students targeted for this program are selected through in-depth diagnosis by the Office of Education, and over about three months, they will receive 24 sessions aimed at improving basic academic skills, literacy, and psychological support. The program will be run in two terms: the first half (May to July) and the second half (September to December). Learning progress will be continuously monitored through coaching record management and pre- and post-assessments.

Parent A, who participated in last year's program, said, "After one-on-one sessions with the teacher, my child no longer felt burdened about going to school," adding, "They also gained confidence in reading books and sharing their thoughts in class."

An official from Songpa District said, "We will strengthen the support system so that students with different learning speeds do not fall behind in the educational process, with schools and specialized institutions working together."

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