National Education Commission Delays Announcement of Education Development Plan to Year-End

The announcement of the draft for the long-term National Education Development Plan (2028-2037), originally scheduled for the end of October, has been postponed to the end of this year.

The National Education Commission (NEC), which operates under the direct authority of the President, held its 11th plenary meeting at 5 p.m. on October 21 at the Government Seoul Building. During this meeting, the commission voted to delay the announcement of the draft from the previously planned late October to the end of December.

In a vote conducted at the end of the meeting, 10 members supported the proposal to postpone the announcement to the end of the year, while 6 members favored leaving the timeline open for further discussion. The proposal for a year-end announcement was ultimately adopted.

Cha Jeong-in, chair of the NEC, stated immediately after the vote, "We decided to postpone the announcement to ensure a high-quality draft that meets the expectations of the public, following thorough consultations with relevant agencies and in-depth discussions on the agenda. I apologize to the public for the wait, but we will work closely with the relevant departments to develop a responsible plan that meets public expectations during this remaining period."

During the meeting, there was intense debate among the members regarding the announcement schedule. The NEC had initially aimed for a legal confirmation of the plan by March 31, 2027, and planned to announce the draft by the end of October. However, the need for more time for review by relevant departments and social consensus on key issues led to the inevitability of a delay.

Choi Eun-ok, Deputy Minister of Education and a government representative at the meeting, emphasized, "The long-term development plan is directly linked to the establishment of annual implementation plans and performance evaluations by departments over the next decade. A draft that reflects government consensus must be announced to prevent confusion in the field, and considering the schedule for national audits and task reviews, we need more time for thorough departmental review."

Commissioner Park Young-hwan suggested that given the broad range of educational issues to be addressed, it was crucial to delay the announcement rather than rush it without sufficient deliberation. Jeon Eun-young also stressed the importance of creating a mature consensus model as a social consensus body, emphasizing the quality of deliberation over hasty scheduling.

Conversely, some members argued for the necessity of establishing a clear deadline for the announcement. Son Deok-je stated, "There is a significant difference between having a maximum timeline and not having one. We must set a minimum deadline of this year to maintain external trust." Kim Kyung-hoe, a standing committee member, also insisted that a public commitment to release the draft by the end of the year is essential for responsible proceedings in the plenary review and subsequent processes.

As opinions among the members remained divided, Chair Cha proposed a show of hands, resulting in the majority favoring the year-end announcement.

The NEC outlined its plans for the long-term National Education Development Plan through its second report item, detailing the procedures for consultations with relevant agencies and gathering public opinions.

Regarding consultations with relevant agencies, the NEC plans to gradually implement discussions among working-level staff and hold meetings with education policy officials at the director level. The commission also aims to actively promote the establishment of a "(tentative) National Education Council," where the NEC chair and the Minister of Education will collaborate directly.

To gather public opinions, the NEC plans to utilize various methods, including expert forums by field (linked to the curriculum), stakeholder meetings, discussions involving youth and students, public opinion surveys, and online and offline public hearings using a citizen opinion platform to accumulate social consensus.

Meanwhile, during the plenary session, the NEC approved the proposal to appoint additional members to the National Curriculum Committee. The newly appointed member is Kim Soon-hyang, a health teacher at Incheon Dongsoo Middle School. Kim is recognized for her expertise in education and extensive field experience, having previously served as a member of the Incheon Metropolitan City Education Office Curriculum Review Committee. Her appointment was finalized with the approval of a majority of the existing committee members, in accordance with Article 17 of the NEC Act. Her term will last until June 29, 2027, the expiration date of the second term of the National Curriculum Committee.