Cha Jeongin: "Draft of Mid-to-Long-Term National Education Development Plan to Be Announced by End of October"

May 7, Korea Educational Development Institute’s "Education Reform Conference"

"Exploring the Vision and Methods for National Education"

"The National Education Commission will announce a draft of the mid- to long-term National Education Development Plan, which contains the vision for national education and the methods for achieving it, by the end of October this year. The finalized plan will be released at the end of March next year."

Cha Jungin, Chairperson of the National Education Commission, made this statement while attending the "Education Reform Conference" held at the Schwet Hall of the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on May 7.

Cha Jeongin, Chair of the National Education Commission, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the "Education Reform Conference" held on the 7th at the Schweitzer Hall of the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Korea Educational Development Institute

Chairperson Cha stated, "It has been 31 years since the 531 Education Reform was announced in 1995," and added, "Today, education is facing challenges of a completely different dimension."

He explained, "We are now in an era of great transformation, marked by the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, which is changing every aspect of human life, learning methods, and the very definition of talent, as well as a drastic decline in the school-age population. However, Korea remains entrenched in academic elitism and fierce university entrance competition." He emphasized the need to "break free from the shackles of the outdated system."

Chairperson Cha remarked, "We must establish teachers' authority, restore the school community, and enable teachers to fully demonstrate their capabilities. At the same time, students should be able to develop basic competencies such as critical thinking and the strength to thrive in society, and achieve holistic growth at school." He stressed the importance of "establishing new educational norms."

He continued, "Korea must become an education nation that implements an advanced education system befitting its status as the world's sixth-largest power." He added, "We will prepare and announce a draft National Education Development Plan that embodies this vision for an education nation."

Chairperson Cha also stated, "While mobilizing professional expertise, we will also faithfully engage in social consensus by listening to the wisdom, hopes, and voices from the field, including students, parents, and teachers." He added, "The National Education Commission will carefully consider the insights shared at today's Education Reform Conference and reflect them in the National Education Development Plan."

At the event hosted by the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI) on this day, participants discussed the direction of reforms for primary, secondary, and higher education amid the era-defining changes of demographic shifts and technological innovation. The National Education Commission plans to incorporate the discussions and feedback from the conference in developing a future-oriented direction for transforming the education system.

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