Expanding "Gifted Schools" Nationwide: Three Additional Affiliated with Science Institutes Designated

To address educational gaps in regions lacking gifted schools, the government is launching an open competition to designate and convert schools into science gifted schools affiliated with science and technology institutes across seven regions: Gangwon, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and South Chungcheong.

The plan aims to expand the foundation for nurturing regional science and technology talent by converting approximately three existing general high schools into science gifted schools.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced on August 7 that it will conduct the "Open Competition for the Designation and Conversion of Gifted Schools Affiliated with Science and Technology Institutes."

Gifted schools are institutions designated and established under the Gifted Education Promotion Act, granting autonomy in academic operations such as grade-free systems and flexible curriculum structuring.

Currently, eight gifted schools are operating nationwide, with the Korea Science Academy of KAIST, affiliated with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) under the jurisdiction of the MSIT, being the only one affiliated with a science and technology institute.

In addition, a gifted school affiliated with the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is being established in South Jeolla and Gwangju, and another affiliated with KAIST is being newly established in North Chungcheong.

This designation and conversion will select and convert approximately three existing regional high schools through evaluation targeting the seven regions of Gangwon, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and South Chungcheong.

The MSIT stated that it has been in discussions with the target local governments and offices of education since April of this year.

To apply for the competition, a joint consultative body comprising the office of education, local government, and a science and technology institute must be formed to submit an application and official document by October 16, and each region can recommend only one school.

Gifted schools affiliated with science and technology institutes provide advanced education linked with institute faculty members, as well as regional industry-academia-research linked research projects and entrepreneurship education.

The MSIT plans to select approximately three schools through an evaluation in November, followed by final designation in December through deliberation by the Central Gifted Education Promotion Committee of the Ministry of Education.

Koo Hyuk-chae, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT, stated, "This conversion will not only strengthen the growth pathways for regional talent but also serve as a starting point to newly explore how our society can move away from entrance exam-centered education and foster core future talent," adding, "We will actively support the creation of a new science gifted education model."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.