On March 20, 2025, the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education held a significant briefing session, marking a new chapter in the educational landscape of the region. This event took place at the Changjo Nara City Hall conference room and was attended by around 146 officials from various Jeonbuk Future Schools. The assembly aimed to discuss the upcoming operational plans and share the objectives set forth for the innovative educational framework.
The Jeonbuk Future Schools serve as a beacon of progressive education, focusing on nurturing global citizens equipped with competencies for the future through a curriculum rooted in professional learning communities and democratic engagement. The core of this innovative curricular framework includes four essential focus courses:
- Basic academic skills enhancement
- Future competency-centered innovative curriculum operation
- Professional learning community-centric class innovation
- Customized learning supported by EduTech and AI course-ware
Additionally, these schools offer elective autonomous courses like the IB program, ecological transition education, global citizenship education, and arts and culture education. This diverse educational structure showcases the expansive vision for 21st-century learning.
During the session, Seo Geo-seok, the Superintendent of Education, emphasized the necessity of innovation in teaching methods. He stated, "Jeonbuk Future School should lead the charge in educational policy by utilizing EduTech and promoting public classes to spark innovation in teaching." This highlights the forward-thinking approach being adopted by the education board.
Moreover, the briefing also unveiled new initiatives aimed at bolstering educational activity protection for teachers. Approximately 900 principals and vice-principals from kindergartens, elementary, middle, high schools, and special schools gathered at the Jeonju Student Education and Culture Center Performance Hall for another important briefing. This session's key focus was despatching information on the 2025 Educational Activity Protection Implementation Plan, which aims at securing a safe teaching environment where educators can concentrate fully on imparting knowledge.
The Jeonbuk office's core objectives, a part of its ten priority tasks for 2025, included enhancing the understanding of educational activity protection at the school ground and strengthening the capability to respond to civil complaints. Shared among the participants were details about civil complaint response methods based on the 'School Principal Responsibility System' and the crucial role that principals play in safeguarding educational activities.
Efforts to prevent infringements in educational activities were also a key topic. The Jeonbuk Office of Education is mobilizing a dedicated group of 23 Educational Activity Protection Lecturers, who will visit schools to conduct preventive training for faculty, students, and parents. The aim here is not only to create awareness but to cultivate a culture that actively protects educational activities.
Further illustrating the dedication to comprehensive support, the initiative includes an online civil complaint consultation tool for parents, the establishment of educational counseling rooms, a hotline for teacher safety, and a two-number service to streamline responses to concerns. Numerous administrative and legal support frameworks have also been introduced, such as setting up Regional Teacher Rights Protection Committees with special teams for handling serious teacher rights violations.
Seo Geo-seok reiterated that the passage of the 'Student Separation Guidance Support Act' by the National Assembly would ensure legal protection for educators while facilitating assistance for students experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. He asserted, "The passage of the 'Student Separation Guidance Support Act' by the National Assembly ensures legal grounds for preventing and protecting educational activities while respecting the rights of all members of the school community." This indeed represents a comprehensive approach to nurturing a supportive educational environment.
The Jeonbuk education administration is clearly paving the way for a refined educational approach that not only emphasizes teaching and learning but also prioritizes educators’ rights and well-being. With such innovative plans and protective measures in place, the future of education in Jeonbuk is looking promising, fostering a culture of respect and enhancement for students, educators, and parents alike.