On January 29, 2002, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development announced the Comprehensive Plan for the Lifelong Education Promotion to support lifelong education programs operated on a local basis to incorporate lifelong education as a part of daily routine, provide the undereducated class the resources to participate in society, and offer adults an opportunity to gain access to higher education.
The Comprehensive Plan to Promote Lifelong Education follows the footsteps of the Basic Plans for National Human Resource Development announced last December and contains 27 major tasks and about 100 detailed actions intended to expand the opportunities for lifelong education and the establishment of its foundation.
Learner-oriented strategy: A departure from the legal-, institutional- and supplier-oriented educational program, the plan encourages the learner to take the initiative to think and learn, develop learning activities and create a culture of learning.
Partnership strategy: Promote the formation of partnerships among the various lifelong education institutions and/or groups covering a wide spectrum of fields and levels.
Information-intensive strategy: Taking full advantage of the information available to realize the goals of lifelong education.
Lifelong education on a local basis: Establish the local lifelong education information centers and lifelong learning centers as the focal points of lifelong education programs, inducing the voluntary participation of local residents.
Creating a learning environment firmly rooted in the everyday lives of local residents by promoting lifelong education and cultural development on a local
basis. Lifelong education needs to grow into an integral part of the local residents lives and culture by offering motivation, recognizing its needs, holding festivities for its promotion, encouraging active study circle programs, and developing campaigns to encourage local authorities to incorporate lifelong education as a part of their basic policy.
Goals to develop 30 cities which actively pursue lifelong education in the next 5
years. Lifelong education programs will be held in local areas units through close partnership with local education offices and local government agencies. Projects to select and support cities that actively implement lifelong education programs will be expanded.
Support measures for study circles including access to learning sites and learning programs will be
provided. Academic credits will be awarded for participating in study circle activities (2005). Space in local resident centers, lifelong learning centers, and schools will be offered to study circles as study sites. Seminars will be organized to share success stories of study circles. An assessment system will be introduced to award credits for such study activities held at study circles.
School facilities will be modified to accommodate both children and adult
learners. In preparation for the 5-day work and school week, school facilities that do not meet the needs and characteristics of adult education will be renovated to accommodate the needs of both groups.
Expand the scope of activities of the lifelong education institutes in universities by assigning full-time professors (2002). Lifelong education institutes at national universities will take the lead in increasing the number of full-time professors to provide a more responsible and high-quality education. Private universities will be encouraged to follow suit.
Schools will also actively operate lifelong education programs by coordinating the tasks assigned to teachers for extra-curriculum
acitivities (2003). Schools will be given discretionary authority to set up lifelong education programs that suit the specific needs of the local community as well as the schools that carry out the programs.
Strengthen support for lifelong education with a view to expanding social
integration. In order to promote social integration and unity, the lifelong education programs will strive to improve literacy, support the lifelong education facilities and its accreditation programs, offer courses in civics for a democratic society, and operate programs for the elderly. Such programs are intended to serve as effective tools to accommodate the socially underserved.
Financial support to ensure free education courses at accredited lifelong education facilities that teach 1st year middle school courses (2002). Those cities or provinces without any accredited lifelong education facilities will be encouraged to establish such facilities. Students taking 1st year middle school courses will receive financial support, allowing them to study free of charge.
Discounts will be offered to elderly citizens taking courses at the lifelong education
institutes. 'Lifelong education volunteers', who take full advantage of the knowledge and experience of retired people, will also receive support
(2002). In order to expand the opportunities for lifelong education to older groups, elderly citizens will be eligible for discounts. Retired teachers will be recruited to serve in the civilian volunteer group (1,500 members). Retired professionals will be given a chance to fulfill their goal to giving back to society by becoming a valuable resource for the target of lifelong education program, that is, local residents and the youth.
Designate and provide financial support for local lifelong education information centers which will serve as the base for women's education
(2003). In order to designate the local lifelong education information centers to become the base for regional education centers for women, 2 to 3 centers will be assigned personnel to oversee operations. A portion of the operational cost will be subsidized.
Broadcast and correspondence high schools will expand their programs, functioning as alternative schools
(2002). Education provided by broadcast and correspondence high schools will be restructured to incorporate the interactive multimedia learning system. A communications channel for high school students will be established to provide continuous education for students having difficulty adjusting to the high school system. Cyber courses will be provided to offer a wider spectrum of choices to high school students including the selection of courses such as a 2nd foreign language.
Cutting red tape - easier registration process at lifelong education facilities operated by civil groups to encourage wide participation in education programs, leading to the formation of a democratic citizenry
(2002). Lifelong education programs managed by non-profit organizations such as religious groups, welfare institutions, labor unions, or professional groups will be included in the 'lifelong education facilities operated by civil groups' to expand the scope of lifelong education programs including educating citizens to function as a member of a democratic society.
Improve overall literacy and introduce accreditation programs for elementary and middle school
programs. Traditional literacy education as well as the new form of literacy education in the advent of the information era call for a novel education support system to enable learners to acquire skills to adjust to the changing society (2003). In order to motivate adult learners with little previous education experience, a accreditation system for elementary and middle school courses will be introduced as a separate system from the conventional national qualification examinations (2004).
Expand the opportunities for adult education to meet the demands of society in the new information
era. To fulfill the demand for higher education among adults, a self-study system as an alternative to a bachelor's degree, granting degrees to apprentices who have acquired valuable skills from masters of special artistic talent, colleges, private businesses, technical colleges and distance universities will jointly establish a credit bank system to provided adults an opportunity for higher education and a network of other education systems for further growth.
Integrate the credit bank system and the self-study system as an alternative to a bachelor's degree
(2003). Establish a system that awards credits that can be applied to national/public qualifications and integrate the credit bank system and the self-study system as an alternative to a bachelor's degree.
An education service system by cyber universities commissioned by private companies (2002), setting up graduate courses at cyber universities will be considered
(2003). An education service system by cyber universities commissioned by private companies as well as setting up graduate courses at cyber universities to complement the existing higher education system and to function as a lifelong education institute for adults.
Establishing a learning mechanism in the workplace and activating lifelong vocational education service provided by private
entities. To cultivate an environment where workers continue to educate themselves, work and learning can be integrated to create a workplace in which workers continue to learn, leading to increased productivity. Development of human resources is facilitated by expanding the workers' opportunity to acquire vocational skills, providing college level courses in the workplace and offering technical courses to employees.
Establish an adult vocational education course in 2-year technical colleges and 4-year universities to encourage adult vocational education and increase the workers' opportunity to receive vocational
training. Expected benefits of the part-time system, and the adult vocational education program includes the expansion of opportunities for higher education for adults utilizing university facilities and the enhancement of the national competitiveness.
The merger of technical institutes operating within private companies, technical colleges and company colleges
(2002). The merging of technical institutes operated within a company, technical colleges and company colleges which are governed by separate laws (Higher Education Law and Lifelong Education Law) and government agencies (Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development), are under review.
Offering incentives to companies operating company colleges, and cutting the red tape involved in establishing such education facilities
(2002). In order to activate the operation of colleges managed within companies, incentives such as allowing the use of employment insurance and vocational development costs will be offered. Obstacles that have discouraged and burdened the business owner in the past, such as securing a minimum number of teaching faculty, will be relieved. Public information campaigns will be held to promote the activities conducted by colleges operated within private companies.
The establishment of the Technical Learning Institute Support Law (2002) and
others. Regulations will be revised to enable technical learning institutes to receive government support including administrative and financial assistance. Technical learning institutes which meet a certain standard will receive support to grow and to specialize, in order to contribute to Korea's international competitiveness.
Establishing the foundation of a lifelong education system. In order to establish the foundation of a lifelong education system; An agency to exclusively oversee the operations of lifelong education institutions must be established and activated. Space to carry out lifelong education must be secured with modern facilities and equipment. A lifelong education program pool must be established. Professional personnel must be recruited to staff the lifelong education programs. A lifelong education comprehensive information system and a lifelong learning counseling center must be established. Securing space for lifelong education, modern facilities and equipment, and an organization to exclusively oversee the operations of lifelong education institutions.
At least one (1) regional lifelong education facility will be established in each city, county, or gu (district)
(2003). The space will be operated through the intelligent structure system, with the ultimate goal of attaining autonomy in operations as a central lifelong education center in the long run.
Increasing the assignment of lifelong educators and utilizing lifelong educators
(2002). Give priority to regional lifelong education information centers and lifelong learning centers in assigning educators. Assign educators on a rotating basis to regional lifelong education information centers.
Establishment and operation of the lifelong education comprehensive information system (2001). A systematic collection and compilation of information related to lifelong education to provide the public with a database and information network offering one-stop service.
Operate education counseling centers that provide telephone, Internet or personal counseling services related to lifelong
education (2003). Phone, Internet and face-to-face counseling services will be made available to those seeking information regarding education opportunities. The counseling program will endeavor to offer a customized education program which meet the learner's educational objectives and learning environment.
