Gyeongbuk Office of Education Selects 50 "After-school Specialized Pilot Kindergartens"... 3.5 Million Won Each for Unique Program Operation

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jong-sik) announced on March 12, 2026, that it has finalized the selection of 50 pilot kindergartens as "After-school Specialized Kindergartens" through a competitive process. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of after-school programs for the 2026 academic year and provide children with a variety of experiences.

This project was launched to increase the autonomy and diversity of after-school kindergarten programs by supporting the operation of after-school activities that reflect the unique characteristics of each region and kindergarten.

After-school collaborative play at Gyeongsan Kkotjae Kindergarten.

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The open call targeted both public and private kindergartens in the Gyeongbuk region, and a total of 186 kindergartens participated. After a thorough review, 50 kindergartens were selected: 41 for the self-developed program type, 8 for the local resource-based program type, and 1 for the public institution-developed resource type.

Each selected kindergarten will receive a budget of 3.5 million won to operate diverse after-school programs tailored to children's developmental stages and interests. With this support, unique programs-such as play, arts, physical activities, and nature experiences-that reflect each kindergarten’s conditions and regional characteristics will be operated.

Additionally, the project is designed to reduce dependence on private education for young children by ensuring that programs do not rely entirely on private teaching materials or external instructors. It will be implemented without imposing any additional costs on parents. Through this, the after-school programs are expected to fulfill the role of public education more effectively.

Notably, among the 50 selected kindergartens, a majority chose the "self-developed program" type. This demonstrates the willingness of on-site teachers to design programs themselves that reflect children’s developmental characteristics and the local environment.

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education plans to further improve the quality of self-developed programs by providing provincial-level training, distributing program development materials, and offering consulting support based on active participation from the field.

Superintendent Lim Jong-sik stated, "We hope that the 50 kindergartens selected this time will operate a variety of after-school programs tailored to the developmental needs of young children and the characteristics of each region, thereby achieving a kindergarten education that satisfies both children and guardians. The Gyeongbuk Office of Education will continue to respect the autonomy and creativity of the field and will create a warm and healthy educational environment for children to grow up happily through systematic support."

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