Demand for Private Physical Education Classes Now Addressed Within Schools

by Yoo Byeongdon

Published 10 Apr.2023 12:00(KST)

Ministry of Education Announces 2023 Plan to Promote School Sports 활성화

The Ministry of Education announced on the 10th that it has informed metropolitan and provincial offices of education nationwide about the '2023 School Sports Activation Promotion Plan,' which includes measures to absorb parents' private education demand for physical activities into public education.

Starting this year, the Ministry plans to introduce sports activity clubs utilizing various types of physical activity programs to encourage students who are usually passive about physical activities to participate actively. Additionally, it will provide 288 types of content on the physical activity app (MetaSports school) so that students can perform physical activities anytime and anywhere on their own.

Physical Activity

In particular, the Ministry aims to operate various physical activity programs at Neulbom Schools for state-responsible education and care, and to meet the recently increased private education demand for physical activities within schools by linking high-quality human and material sports resources in the local community.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Education has allocated a special grant budget of 52.8 billion KRW to expand the operation of school sports clubs, increase the number of events at the nationwide school sports club festivals (approximately 18 in-person and 20 online events), and introduce sports activity clubs, thereby promoting after-school physical activities. Through these efforts, the Ministry plans to cultivate students' character and eradicate school violence.

Furthermore, to expand the health fitness evaluation (PAPS), currently conducted from 5th grade in elementary school, to students in grades 1 through 4, the Ministry will develop appropriate evaluation standards and operate fitness improvement programs (Health Fitness Classes) tailored to students on an ongoing basis to promote a lively school life for all students.

Moreover, the Ministry of Education plans to analyze the achievements of school sports by the end of this year, gather opinions from the field, and establish the '3rd Comprehensive Plan for School Sports Promotion' to be applied over the next five years (2024?2028), preparing more strengthened measures to activate school sports.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, emphasized, “Physical activities are a key mechanism that enables students to have mentally and physically healthy school lives and create schools filled with laughter without school violence,” adding, “We will strive to activate school sports activities so that all students and parents can be satisfied.”