Seoul Education Chief Jeong Geun-sik is taking significant steps to enhance the effectiveness of his pledges as he approaches the 100-day mark of his tenure.
On October 7, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education held the 'First Seoul Future Education Forum' alongside a discussion on implementing pledges for 'basic education for all' at the conference room on the third floor. This forum aimed to explore concrete measures to realize Jeong's vision of 'basic education for all and happy collaborative education' and to discuss its practical application.
In his opening remarks, Jeong stated, "I hope the suggestions made today will lead to follow-up actions by the responsible departments, and that we can also monitor the progress of these initiatives. Let us work together to ensure that our pledges translate into tangible changes in the daily lives of students and staff."
He emphasized that "basic education is a right that guarantees essential learning for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances," and highlighted five policy directions—holistic education, accountable education, civic education, educational welfare, and a safe and peaceful educational community—as pathways to achieving this basic education.
Jeong also called for close cooperation among educational institutions, stating, "The learning, mental health, care, and safety of students are interconnected, so departments must align their goals and roles."
The forum included presentations from department heads and educational supervisors outlining specific plans for implementing the five policy directions.
Kim Young-il, head of the Creative Future Education Division, discussed the need for 'human-centered AI responsible education' to address concerns about learning gaps and misuse in the age of artificial intelligence. He announced plans to establish an AI and digital literacy diagnostic system for elementary and middle schools and to set up an AI education center by 2028 to promote future-oriented educational models.
Park Seong-ki, head of the Student Competency and Innovative Education Division, promised to strengthen the learning safety net. He stated, "We will expand the Seoul Learning Diagnosis and Growth Center, a multi-learning safety net outside of schools, to all 25 districts by 2030 and gradually implement a two-teacher system in first and second-grade classrooms by prioritizing the placement of collaborative instructors."
Han Jeong-hyeon, head of the Civic Education Division, emphasized that the core of civic education is to cultivate the ability to recognize differences and coexist in a society where conflict and hatred are on the rise. He announced plans to enhance experiential education outside the classroom, including peace and unification experiential learning and visits to historical sites related to the independence movement.
Oh Si-young, head of the Student Support Division, highlighted the need for a 'customized integrated support' system for students facing complex crises. He explained, "We will establish a rapid support system through a one-stop call center (SEN Call) and strengthen support for students from immigrant backgrounds by setting up a second multicultural education support center in the eastern region of Seoul."
Finally, Kim Young-sam, head of the Civic Education Division, introduced the 'Mental Recovery Campus' initiative, which is a priority project for Jeong. He stated, "By 2028, we will open a healing school on the site of the former Deoksu High School that supports both healing and learning, and we will activate the 'GRIP' emergency response system for student life-saving measures to detect crises early."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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