Gyeonggi Province hosted 2013 Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning Conference to discuss mid- and long-term promotion plans

In the 2013 Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning Conference held on November 4 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Academy, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo is banging the gavel to announce the beginning of the ordinary session. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Gyeonggi Province hosted the 2013 Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning Conference to review the current status of lifelong learning in Gyeonggi as well as to discuss future management plans.

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning hosted the conference on November 4 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Academy to set up the regional promotion directions for lifelong learning, enhance cooperation of related authorities, offices and bureaus for business sharing and adjustment, and determine mid- to long-term promotion plans related to lifelong learning by 2017.

Over 30 people participated in the conference including Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo, officials of lifelong learning in Gyeonggi, and members of the council.

Prior to the conference, two people Gyeongin National University of Education professor Jang In shil and National Institute for Lifelong Education director Shin Min sun were reappointed as Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning council members, while four new members were appointed: Namyangju Lifelong Educational & Cultural Center team manager Kim Jong sun, Seoul National University professor Kim Jin-mo, Dong-Eui University professor Kim Jin-hwa, and Kongju National University professor Yang Byeong-chan.

“Lifelong education has evolved from individual interest such as aesthetic education in the past, and is developing into national and economic interest by extending the aging population’s participation in the society, creating town jobs, and forming learning welfare and culture,” said Governor Kim Moon-soo who chaired the conference as the chairperson of the Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning Conference. “Today, Korea has many educational problems due to the indefinite division of areas in agencies concerned caused by the separation of administration and education.”

Governor Kim also added, “Are teenagers not going to school considered as members of the society or as students? This is the problem of education in Korea, and the concern of Gyeonggi Province. Broken families and single parent families need after-school classes, but the school only takes responsibility for what goes on inside the school, while the society considers them as the responsibility of education. Victims of many serious dead zones due to the division of administration and education are students as well as those who want education.”

Governor Kim Moon-soo chaired the conference as the chairperson of the Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning Conference. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Governor Kim commented,“If the number of school days is 198 a year, this indicates that schools are not used in the remaining days. One way could be to actively use the empty facilities and employ more teachers before appointment.”

Governor Kim also added, “Sadly, the enthusiasm of teachers diminished compared to the past. Lifelong education and learning must be smoothly carried out by educational specialists rather than short-term councils. Collaboration of the province as well as 31 cities and counties and related agencies is also important. Gyeonggi Province will do its best to develop lifelong education in the province and bring happiness to the residents.”

Cho Hak-soo, head of the Educational Policy Division, gave a presentation on the ‘Report of the Current Status of 2013 Gyeonggi Province Budget and Investment in Lifelong Education,’ and Lee Sung, president of the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning presented the agenda of ‘Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Education Mid- to Long-term Promotion Plans.’

Programs promoted by Gyeonggi Province this year in relation to lifelong education consist of 421 projects including the six education fields such as vocational capability programs (152), citizen participation (132), liberal humanity (52), culture and art (18), basic literacy (14), and academic ability supplementation (9) as well as 44 cases of integrated education in which the six education fields are combined. Total budget investment was approximately KRW 97.2 billion, and 67.8% (KRW 67.8 billion) was the provincial expenses.

In relation to the Gyeonggi Province Comprehensive Plan 2012-2020, Lee Sung proposed the Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Education Mid- to Long-term Promotion Plans targeting the implementation of creative learning economy as knowledge residents with the vision of ‘Happy Gyeonggi Residents with Lifelong Learning,’ and achievement of 50% participation rate of residents in lifelong learning by 2017.

Governor Kim said, “Gyeonggi Province will do its best to develop lifelong education in the province and bring happiness to the residents.” ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

“The Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Education Mid- to Long-term Promotion Plans consist of three promotion strategies such as making lifelong learning a way of life, creating a learning ecosystem, and reinforcing the grounds for learning; 10 strategic tasks; and 25 detailed tasks,” said Lee. “To promote strategic lifelong learning and expand the foundation to build a resident-directed learning community, the key is for the Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning Strategy Committee as well as cities and counties to perform substantial roles.”

He also added, “An annual average of KRW 98.4 billion is expected to be consumed in fields other than infrastructure by 2017 in order to proceed with these mid- to long-term promotion plans. The mid- to long-term model aimed by lifelong learning is a cooperation model of the government and citizens with overlapping fields. The field of lifelong learning for job creation will significantly influence the creation of part-time employment.”

Many opinions on the promotion plans were exchanged during the conference. In particular, Governor Kim Moon-soo presented ideas to enhance programs using the empty facilities available in the province and to employ more teachers before appointment for lifelong education.

Moreover, the participants also offered many ideas such as building a partnership with the provincial office of education for lifelong education, institutionalizing talent donation of volunteers such as women with career discontinuity, and actively using available facilities as places for learning.

Gyeonggi Province lifelong education has been promoted in earnest along with the opening of Gyeonggi-do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning in December 2011, which is acting as a guide for lifelong education in Korea by seeking residents’ happiness through lifelong learning, creating lifelong learning ecosystem, and providing lifelong education in connection with jobs, for multicultural families and the underprivileged, and in the fields of youth creativity and personality.

Moreover, Gyeonggi Province is the first local government in Korea to establish the Lifelong and Education Bureau, which is currently in operation by appointing 21 lifelong learning cities in the province.

Governor Kim is taking a commemorative photograph after presenting the appointment certificate to a member of the Gyeonggi Province Lifelong Learning council. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

ⓒGyeonggi G-News | Lim Se-jin yh48635@nate.com

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