The Ministry of Education will provide 56.1 billion won to support the restructuring of 86 departments at 60 vocational high schools. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – The Ministry of Education announced on July 11 that it will provide 56.1 billion won to support the restructuring of 86 departments at 60 vocational high schools as part of its “2024 Vocational High School Restructuring Support Project.”
The initiative, which has been ongoing since 2016, aims to boost the competitiveness of vocational education by aligning school curricula with evolving industry needs.
Over the past eight years, approximately 1,000 departments have undergone restructuring. This year’s focus is on adapting to emerging industries and new technologies.
Of the 86 departments selected for this year’s project, 42 will be overhauled to specialize in cutting-edge fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and software development.
Additionally, 10 micro-courses have been chosen to integrate these new technological competencies with existing specializations.
The selected departments will receive funding from the Ministry of Education and local education offices to develop new curricula and learning materials, enhance teacher training, and improve practical learning environments.
These revamped programs are set to launch in 2026.
To ensure a systematic transition, the ministry will provide industry-linked consulting services to the selected departments and expand on-site training opportunities to boost teacher expertise in these new fields.
Choi Chang-ik, the Director General of Lifelong and Vocational Education Policy at the Ministry of Education, emphasized the importance of this initiative.
“For vocational education to remain competitive, it must be responsive to rapidly changing industrial structures and job requirements,” he said.
“We will support vocational high schools in timely curriculum reforms to nurture talent that meets industry demands.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
