The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education plans to break past practices in the design of schoolyards at public schools to establish a new standard of design that will maximize the use of space for a variety of sports activities. (image: Gyeonggi Provincial Office)
SUWON, Nov. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education plans to break past practices in the design of schoolyards at public schools to establish a new standard of design that will maximize the use of space for a variety of sports activities.
The office announced on Monday the so-called ‘innovation project for schoolyards,’ which involves installing climbing holds along the outside walls of school buildings, and raising basketball posts behind the buildings to allow students to play and exercise conveniently whenever they have free time.
The office also plans to divide schoolyards into multiple sectors to allow simultaneous sports activities including futsal, volleyball, dodgeball, tennis, and others.
The move comes after series of concerns that the limited use of schoolyards is undermining on-site education at public schools.
Some schools have already installed fencing to divide the schoolyard for various purposes.
The office is also considering initiatives to build futsal fields and other facilities on school roofs to maximize the utility of school areas, which will become possible only after current legislation that prohibits installing certain facilities on rooftops are amended.
“Physical capability and development differ among elementary, middle, and high school students, which calls for physical activities suitable for each group,” said a source from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.
“To make this happen, it is important not only to think about the curriculum, but also to change the concept and structure of our schoolyards.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
