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Seoul's education system is facing a crisis. Declining academic performance, educational disparities, and dependence on private tutoring are among the most pressing issues. In this context, candidate Jo Jeon-hyuk's education policies offer practical solutions to address the fundamental problems in Seoul’s education system. His policies are not just about minor changes but mark the beginning of a groundbreaking transformation for the future of Seoul's education.
One of Jo Jeon-hyuk's key proposals is providing all students with free access to after-school programs, which could be a crucial measure in addressing educational disparities. He is clearly determined to correct the current inequality, where children's educational opportunities are heavily influenced by their parents' financial capacity. By giving all students free access to after-school programs, regardless of their economic background, Jo's policy aims to be a starting point for reducing social inequalities. Particularly, with a subsidy of up to 1 million won for students with special needs and 300,000 won for general students, his proposal aims to reduce the burden of private education costs and establish after-school programs as a vital part of public education.
Another core policy of Jo Jeon-hyuk is to allow preemptive learning in after-school programs and expand customized curriculum courses. His plan to revise the “Special Act on the Promotion of Public Education Normalization and Regulation of Preemptive Education” is designed to enable preemptive learning in schools, helping students keep up with their studies. His vision to establish after-school hubs, managed public study cafes, and a dedicated after-school support office will reduce teachers' workloads and improve the quality of education, representing a vital shift for the future of public education.
To tackle the issue of declining academic performance, Jo proposes the reinstatement of written exams in elementary schools and the introduction of AI-based personalized assessment systems. This will play a key role in identifying students' academic achievements and providing customized support to bridge learning gaps. His plan to reduce the proportion of performance evaluations and allow teachers to opt out of them aims to relieve the excessive burden on both students and teachers, providing a chance to focus on more essential aspects of education.
Jo Jeon-hyuk is also working to enhance support for out-of-school youths and students from multicultural families. These initiatives aim to help out-of-school youths return to education or explore career paths while supporting students from multicultural families in overcoming language and cultural barriers to integrate into school life. These policies reflect his vision of an inclusive education system where all students have equal opportunities.
Furthermore, Jo plans to establish a direct parent council under the education superintendent's office to enhance communication with parents. This will give parents the opportunity to directly participate in education policies, while the creation of a grievance resolution center and a reporting center for entrance exam corruption and biased education will address parental concerns. His plan to ensure transparency in educational information and eliminate mandatory parental participation in school events reflects a practical solution based on the demands of the field, aiming to increase trust and transparency in education.
Protecting teachers' rights is another area that Jo emphasizes. By establishing a team of lawyers and specialists to protect teachers’ rights and enhancing legal protections for educators, his policy seeks to reduce the burden on teachers, allowing them to focus on teaching. Additionally, his plan to support teachers' professional development through teacher study groups and lesson presentation sessions is an important mechanism for enhancing teachers' expertise.
Strengthening support for private schools is also one of Jo's key policies. By ensuring that private schools can operate curricula that align with their founding principles and allowing religious education for character development, Jo seeks to balance private school autonomy with public education. Furthermore, his plan to enact a Student Rights and Responsibilities Ordinance to teach students accountability and to abolish the Student Human Rights Ordinance to restore order in the education field aims to foster responsible citizens.
Jo Jeon-hyuk’s proposal to establish a school evaluation office to objectively assess schools from an external perspective and provide additional support to excellent schools and teachers creates a foundation for continuous improvement in schools. This policy encourages schools to foster better educational environments and provide students with higher-quality education.
Regarding school safety, Jo's proposed "School Safety 111" initiative stands out. By assigning counselors, lawyers, and police officers to each school and installing intelligent CCTV systems, his policy aims to prevent and address school violence, ensuring a safe learning environment for students. Additionally, his partnership with the police to combat youth crime and his plans to strengthen digital crime prevention education will allow students to grow safely in the digital age, addressing the current societal needs.
School facility improvements are also emerging as a crucial issue. Jo promises to improve school facilities such as classrooms and restrooms, increase cleaning staff, and enhance heating and cooling support to ensure students can learn in a comfortable environment. His plan to raise the meal budget and increase cafeteria staff will also contribute to improving students' health and learning focus.
In an era where the use of digital devices has become commonplace, Jo Jeon-hyuk proposes the "Digital Pause" initiative to prevent excessive use of digital devices among students. By collecting smartphones at school and strengthening digital literacy and ethics education, his policy seeks to guide students in using digital devices responsibly, reflecting an educational approach well-suited to the digital generation.
Jo's plans to strengthen school choice options, expand class sizes in high-demand schools, and provide opportunities for students to experience middle and high school settings in advance aim to diversify students' learning experiences. Additionally, his proposal to tighten regulations on youth use of electric scooters and expand shuttle bus and walking school bus services reflects his commitment to student safety.
Jo Jeon-hyuk's revolutionary childcare policy aims to expand the "Neulbom School" program to all grades by 2026, offering free meals and high-quality childcare programs to alleviate the burden on parents. His plan to introduce before-and-after-school care stations and rotating childcare buses to accommodate parents' work schedules provides a practical solution for working families.
Jo's swift implementation of the early childhood education integration and his policy to enhance support for infant and toddler education are crucial measures to improve the quality of early childhood education and address the low birth rate issue. These policies are part of his comprehensive educational vision, ensuring that all families have access to quality education and care services.
Through his "Che-In-Ji" (body, character, intelligence) education plan, which fosters holistic talent with physical strength and character, and the expansion of art and physical education-focused schools, Jo seeks to create an environment where students with diverse talents can fully develop their potential.
Jo Jeon-hyuk's education policies are practical solutions aimed at restoring fairness in education, strengthening public education, and creating better learning environments for students. If implemented, his policies will bring about significant improvements in Seoul’s education system. His various proposals offer concrete solutions to current challenges and will play a key role in building a forward-looking educational environment.
Jo Jeon-hyuk’s education policies are not merely reforms; they are the starting point for innovative changes that will fundamentally reshape the structure of Seoul’s education. Providing free access to after-school programs, allowing preemptive learning, reinstating written exams in elementary schools, and introducing AI-based personalized assessments are powerful tools for addressing educational disparities and declining academic performance. Moreover, his support policies for out-of-school youths and multicultural students reflect his vision of an inclusive education system that cares for society’s most vulnerable.
Policies that protect teachers' rights and strengthen communication with parents will ensure that all key stakeholders in education can participate in a system based on trust and respect. Jo's plans to protect teachers' teaching activities, establish a parent council, and ensure transparency in educational information are essential elements for improving the quality of education.
Jo's policies to create safe and comfortable school environments and protect students from excessive use of digital devices will ensure students learn in a focused, secure environment. Strengthening electric scooter regulations, enhancing commuting safety, implementing the "School Safety 111" system, and introducing the "Digital Pause" policy are all measures that prioritize student safety.
Finally, his childcare revolution, rapid promotion of early childhood education integration, and "Che-In-Ji" education will not only improve students' learning environments but also help alleviate parental burdens, positively impacting society. His expansion of the "Neulbom School" program and the introduction of childcare stations will provide groundbreaking solutions for working parents struggling with childcare issues.
In conclusion, Jo Jeon-hyuk’s education policies offer specific and practical solutions to the challenges Seoul's education system currently faces. His policies reflect a vision for the future of education in Seoul, driven by the power of change and innovation. Jo's educational reforms are essential to creating a future where Seoul’s students can learn in better environments and enjoy equal opportunities.
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