Superintendent Kim Seokjun Holds Consecutive Dialogues with Vice Principals of Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in Busan

"We Will Directly Reflect Voices from the Field in Policy"

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education has been holding a series of sessions titled 'Empathy with Vice Principals' to listen to voices from the front lines of schools.

The intention is to directly incorporate vice principals' opinions into overall educational policy and administrative operations. These sessions have been evaluated as opportunities for communication and empathy on the ground.

Superintendent Kim Seokjun is having a communication and empathy session titled 'Dialogue with Vice Principals' and is taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Busan Metropolitan Office of Education

Kim Seokjun, Superintendent of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, held dialogue sessions with middle school vice principals on December 1 and with high school vice principals on December 4 at the international conference room of the education office annex. On December 9, a meeting with elementary school vice principals is scheduled. The discussions cover a wide range of school issues, including curriculum management such as classes and assessments, teacher policies, administrative and financial management, and ways to reduce workload.

Superintendent Kim explained, "This is an opportunity to hear about the real concerns and vivid stories from the field that vice principals experience, and to jointly consider the direction for the development of education in Busan."

At the sessions, there were concentrated calls for improvements in personnel and budget policies, such as measures to operate small schools due to declining student numbers and ways to address overcrowded schools in certain areas. Suggestions related to reducing workload were also raised, including expanding the placement of librarian teachers in line with the expansion of reading education and streamlining the process for hiring substitute teachers during long-term leaves.

Regarding the high school credit system, which was fully implemented this year, discussions continued on the need to maintain class sizes, secure sufficient teaching staff, and address regional educational disparities.

Superintendent Kim stated, "I took to heart the urgent voices from the field," adding, "For stable school operations, I will actively propose to the Ministry of Education the maintenance of class sizes and securing more teaching staff. When providing budget support, I will take local conditions into account to help bridge educational gaps. I will also improve teachers' working conditions to create an environment where they can focus on teaching."

Sixty vice principals, recommended by the district-level autonomous supervision councils of middle and high schools, attended the sessions. Superintendent Kim said, "This is the first official communication session with vice principals," and added, "We will design Busan's education policies with a focus on the field and further strengthen the system of cooperation with vice principals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.