The initiative pairs college and graduate students with multicultural and North Korean defector students to assist with Korean language education and adaptation to school life while providing scholarships to the mentors as part of a tailored national scholarship labor program. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEJONG, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – The Ministry of Education and the Korea Student Aid Foundation have announced plans to expand the “2024 Multicultural and North Korean Defector Student Mentoring Program.”
This initiative pairs college and graduate students with multicultural and North Korean defector students to assist with Korean language education and adaptation to school life while providing scholarships to the mentors as part of a tailored national scholarship labor program.
With the number of multicultural students in elementary, middle, and high schools reaching 181,178 last year—a nearly fourfold increase over 11 years—the scale of this year’s program has significantly grown.
The budget for the program has been set at 15.6 billion won for this year, more than doubling from last year’s 6.75 billion won.
Additionally, the hourly scholarship rate for participating college and graduate students will be increased. In urban areas, the rate will go from 12,500 won to 14,000 won per hour, and in rural and fishing areas, from 15,000 won to 18,000 won per hour.
The program’s start date has also been moved up from April to March to allow mentoring education support from the beginning of the semester.
Further information about the program can be found on the Korea Student Aid Foundation’s website (http://www.kosaf.go.kr).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho expressed the government’s commitment to continually support all students, regardless of their immigration background, to develop their potential and become valuable members of society.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
