Multicultural Primary School Will Open in 2011

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Wed, December 6, 2023 | 11:11

Multicultural Primary School Will Open in 2011

Posted : 2009-09-27 18:16

Updated : 2009-09-27 18:16

By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter

Korea's first official primary school for multicultural children may open in 2011, a Seoul-based civic group said Sunday.

The organization called "Global Sharing of Love" has been making preparations for the school since 2006 through an ad-hoc private committee led by Kim Seong-yi, a former minister for health, welfare and family affairs, and Rep. Shin Sang-jin of the governing Grand National Party (GNP).

If authorized by the state, the school will be accredited as the first multicultural institution for elementary education here.

There are several schools in Busan and Gwangju for interracial students, but they have not been approved by the government as official educational institutions. Certificates of graduation from these facilities are not officially recognized.

"Many children of interracial marriages face difficulties in receiving normal educations, due to financial strains and social prejudice," an official with the committee said. "Korea must embrace them through an education that will lift them out of the fringes of Korean society.

The project is mainly to address the education divide faced by children of multicultural marriages.

As many as 25 percent of interracial children are not enrolled in school, a recent report by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security said. Such students face a multitude of problems at school, such as bullying.

Government figures show that the number of such children has seen a steep rise in recent years. Currently, there are around 24,000, compared to 7,712 in 2005.

To be established in the metropolitan area, the school will accommodate 350 students and provide boarding and sports facilities. Students will be educated free of charge for six years.

An outline of the project indicates that the school curriculum will be focused on nurturing them as language specialists through early training.

The school will also help the children deal with the cultural and social conflicts they face as interracial students.

The 5 billion-won project is entirely dependent on private funding from individuals and institutions. The committee will soon launch a funding campaign and call on government support for the project.

If the primary-school curriculum proves a success, the committee will also look into establishing middle and high schools as well.

A government survey showed that some 70 percent of multicultural children are also not receiving high school educations.

jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr