Superintendent of Education of Gyeonggi Province
Overview
The Superintendent of Education of Gyeonggi Province is the head of the local educational autonomy body responsible for overseeing education and academic affairs in Gyeonggi Province. According to the Local Educational Autonomy Act, the superintendent is elected through direct popular vote, serves a four-year term, and may be re-elected. As Gyeonggi Province is the metropolitan local government with the largest number of students and schools nationwide, the policy direction of the Superintendent of Education of Gyeonggi Province significantly impacts the national education sector.
Main Content
Election Method and History
Following the amendment of the Local Educational Autonomy Act in 2007, which introduced direct popular election, the Superintendent of Education of Gyeonggi Province has been directly elected by residents starting from the 5th nationwide local elections in 2010. Initially, the superintendent and the education councilors were elected separately, but from 2014, the election of education councilors was abolished, transitioning to a single election system for the superintendent. Candidates may only run as independents without party nomination, and the winner is determined by a simple plurality voting system.
Powers and Responsibilities
The Superintendent of Education of Gyeonggi Province represents the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and exercises the following key powers:
- Submitting ordinances related to education and academic affairs in Gyeonggi Province, and drafting and executing budgets
- Guiding and supervising the operation of kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and special schools within the province
- Managing teacher personnel and service affairs
- Overseeing curriculum operation and academic achievement management
- Establishing policies for lifelong education and career education
- Improving school facilities and educational environments
Past Superintendents
The position of Superintendent of Education of Gyeonggi Province began as an appointed system after the revival of local educational autonomy in 1991 and transitioned to a direct election system in 2010. Notable past superintendents include:
- Kim Shin-bok (1991~1993, appointed)
- Kim Deok-jung (1993~1997, appointed)
- Lee Hae-hak (1997~2001, appointed)
- Kim Jin-chun (2001~2005, appointed)
- Kim Sang-gon (2005~2009, appointed; 2010~2014, elected) - Introduced innovative education
- Lee Jae-jeong (2014~2022) - Expanded innovation schools, enacted the Student Human Rights Ordinance
- Im Tae-hee (2022~present) - Strengthened basic academic skills, transitioned to digital education
Major Policies
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, as the largest education office in the country, has pursued various pioneering policies:
- Innovation Schools: Introduced in 2009, innovation schools emphasize autonomy and democratic school operation, spreading nationwide.
- Student Human Rights Ordinance: Enacted in 2010, the ordinance includes freedom of hairstyle and clothing, and prohibition of corporal punishment, sparking significant controversy.
- Gyeonggi Future Education: Building a future education system through digital transformation, customized education, and introduction of the high school credit system.
- Basic Academic Skills Guarantee: Since 2023, strengthened the basic academic skills diagnosis-remediation system and expanded support for underachieving students.
- Education Welfare: Full implementation of free school meals (2011), free school uniforms, and expanded education cost support.
Organization and Budget
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education oversees 25 district offices of education (Suwon, Seongnam, Anyang, Bucheon, Gwangmyeong, Pyeongtaek, Ansan, Gwacheon, Uijeongbu, Goyang, Guri, Namyangju, Paju, Yangju, Pocheon, Yeoncheon, Gapyeong, Yeoju, Yangpyeong, Icheon, Gwangju, Hanam, Yongin, Anseong, Gimpo, Hwaseong, Osan, Siheung, Gunpo, Uiwang) and employs approximately 50,000 teachers and staff. The 2024 budget is approximately 12 trillion won, the largest among all provincial education offices nationwide.
Recent Trends
In 2024~2025, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is showing the following changes and trends:
- Accelerated Digital Education Transition: Preparing for the introduction of AI digital textbooks, building wireless infrastructure in all schools, and expanding teacher digital competency training.
- Full Implementation of High School Credit System: Expanding elective courses and activating joint curriculum operations between schools in line with the full implementation of the high school credit system in 2025.
- Basic Academic Skills Strengthening Policy: Establishing a three-tier safety net (diagnosis-remediation-enrichment) for basic academic skills to recover learning losses post-COVID-19, with intensive support for reading, writing, and arithmetic.
- Expanded Student Mental Health Support: Increasing the placement of professional counselors in schools, strengthening the functions of Wee Centers, and mandating student mental health checkups.
- Discussions on Strengthening Educational Autonomy: Ongoing debates on reforming the direct election system for superintendents (allowing party nominations, changing election methods, etc.), but currently maintaining the independent single-election system.
- Response to Low Birth Rates: Consolidating small schools, restructuring schools, and expanding integrated care and early childhood education services in response to declining school-age populations.
- Im Tae-hee Superintendent's Second Term Policies: Superintendent Im Tae-hee, who took office in 2022, aims for re-election in the 2026 local elections, promoting policies emphasizing autonomy and accountability under the banner of 'Gyeonggi Education Great Transformation'.
Related Topics
- [[Local Educational Autonomy System]]
- [[Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education]]
- [[Innovation Schools]]
- [[Student Human Rights Ordinance]]
- [[High School Credit System]]
- [[AI Digital Textbooks]]
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