Chungbuk, from Pilot Program to Full ImplementationOn the Ground: “One Staff Member Isn’t Enough”Some Resign Due to Overwhelming Administrative Burden“Burden Shifted to Schools… Support System Needs Improvement”On April 2 last year, students pose for a commemorative photo after a history class at the Neulbom School of Soro Elementary School in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. (Source: Newsis)[Cheonji Ilbo Chungbuk=Reporter Kim Hong-jin] The ‘Neulbom School’ initiative, promoted as a national agenda since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, is expanding across the country. However, in the Chungbuk region, concerns are being raised over the effectiveness of the policy due to a shortage of on-site personnel and growing controversy over outsourcing.The Neulbom School system integrates education and after-school care before and after regular class hours in elementary schools. The Chungbuk Provincial Office of Education is working to establish it under its own brand, ‘Chungbuk Now Neulbom School.’ After launching pilot operations in the second half of 2023, the program was fully implemented for first graders last year and expanded to include second graders this year.Although the provincial office established a dedicated call center, integrated support platforms, and university-linked programs, the reality in schools is increasingly chaotic due to lack of staff, insufficient space, and concerns over treatment of instructors.At a policy forum held in March by the Chungbuk Provincial Council, participants pointed out that while they agreed with the purpose of the policy, schools were overwhelmed due to inadequate preparation. Some Neulbom field workers have reportedly resigned under excessive administrative burdens.While the Chungbuk Provincial Office of Education emphasizes policy success by citing survey results showing over 90% satisfaction among students and parents, teachers’ unions and front-line workers argue that the numbers reflect only ‘surface-level satisfaction.’Lee Jeong-beom, chairman of the Education Committee of the Chungbuk Provincial Council, said in an interview with this newspaper, “The direction of Neulbom is right, but it is difficult for schools to sustain without professional staff to support teachers.” He added, “We need to expand hub-type Neulbom facilities focused on grades 1 and 2 and reinforce field staff, but limitations in total personnel budgets make this difficult.”Shin Jae-jung, a finance and welfare officer at the education office, responded, “The system is still in its early stages, and we do not currently see a serious staff shortage. We will supplement any lacking areas going forward.”The Chungbuk chapter of the National School Irregular Workers’ Union held a press conference in March, stating, “The responsibilities of Neulbom workers have exceeded manageable levels,” and demanded immediate personnel reinforcement and separation of administrative tasks.◆ Still lacking despite ‘Neulbom’… A triple burden of staff, space, and budgetThe Chungbuk branch of the National School Irregular Workers’ Union holds a press conference in front of the main building of the Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education on March 10, calling for a resolution to the heavy workload faced by Neulbom support staff. (Source: Newsis)Since the second semester of 2023, Chungbuk was designated as a pilot area by the Ministry of Education and began operating tailored programs for first graders. This year, the program has been expanded to all 268 elementary schools in the province.Chungbuk’s education office established a dedicated Neulbom support division and deployed 286 staff members, including 29 support managers, 219 Neulbom field workers, and 38 temporary teachers. However, with only about one staff member per school, critics argue the program’s execution is severely limited.The Chungbuk chapter of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU) said in a March statement, “After the semester began, some Neulbom workers resigned due to overwhelming duties,” and insisted that even minimal working conditions had not been ensured.In response, the education office said it is gradually improving by reinforcing support center staff, providing operating manuals, and offering field consulting. However, teachers continue to complain, saying, “In schools without Neulbom workers, teachers are forced to take on additional administrative work.”◆ Confusion among instructors and care workers… Role conflicts persistThe Education Committee of the Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Council (Chairman Lee Jeong-beom) holds a policy forum on March 28 at the council chamber to discuss the current status and challenges of expanding the Neulbom School program. (Provided by: Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Council) cCheonji Ilbo, July 14, 2025.On the ground, conflicts among after-school instructors, official care workers, and Neulbom staff are also widespread. In schools without an assigned Neulbom manager, principals have reportedly designated regular teachers to handle administrative duties.At the March forum, care worker Yoon Song-hee said, “Parents may be satisfied, but the policy itself is causing confusion. Without clearly defining roles and responsibilities among job categories, synergy is unlikely.”After-school instructors have also expressed concerns, saying, “Elective after-school activities have been excluded from Neulbom,” leading to job insecurity and marginalization. Lee Jin-wook, division head at the KTU Chungbuk chapter, said, “Seven out of ten instructors are opposed to the Neulbom expansion. Instructors must be recognized as part of the educational community.”Currently, Neulbom-related workers are hired under a mix of contracts: temporary, public employment, or short-term contracts. The combination of educational and administrative tasks has created growing fatigue in the field. However, the education office maintains that some confusion is expected in the early stage and that improvements will follow after the system stabilizes.◆ 90% satisfaction?… “Structure matters more than statistics”The Education Committee of the North Chungcheong Provincial Council holds a policy forum on March 28 in the council’s conference room to assess the current status of Neulbom Schools and explore improvement measures. (Provided by: North Chungcheong Provincial Council) cCheonji Ilbo, July 14, 2025.The Chungbuk Provincial Office of Education emphasizes that more than 90% of students and parents are satisfied with the Neulbom program. Survey responses indicate positive feedback in areas like reduced care burdens, willingness to re-enroll, and improved school adaptation.However, teachers, staff, instructors, and care workers insist, “Structural reform must come before numbers.”At the March forum, Lee Jeong-eun, deputy head of the KTU Chungbuk chapter, said, “Field workers are being overloaded with unmanageable administrative work,” and called for expansion of staff, appointment of more Neulbom managers, and better working conditions.Chungbuk provincial lawmaker Park Jin-hee added, “For Neulbom to function as intended, the issues of staffing, safety, and space must be addressed first,” emphasizing the need for legal and institutional support through ordinances.Neulbom School is not simply an expansion of care services. It represents a paradigm shift toward publicly supported education and care before and after regular class hours. For the policy to succeed, it must be backed by sufficient staffing, budgeting, and legal frameworks—and continuously monitored to ensure effective outcomes.To achieve the vision of ‘a school that is always as warm as spring,’ as the slogan promises, the government must align its implementation speed with the voices and realities of those in the field.
Le programme « Neulbom School » en Corée du Sud, et plus précisément dans la région de Chungbuk, se présente comme une initiative prometteuse visant à intégrer l’éducation et le soutien extra-scolaire dans les écoles primaires. Lancé comme agenda national sous l’administration de Yoon Suk-yeol, ce projet suscite aujourd’hui des critiques concernant sa mise en œuvre, notamment en raison d’un manque de personnel et des controverses liées à l’externalisation. Quels sont les défis auxquels fait face ce programme, et quelles en sont les implications futures pour le secteur éducatif sud-coréen ?
De projet pilote à mise en œuvre complète : l’itinéraire de Chungbuk
Bien que le programme ait débuté avec des objectifs ambitieux au sein de la province de Chungbuk, l’évolution vers une implémentation complète pour les élèves de première et deuxième année s’accompagne de défis grandissants. En 2023, le Bureau provincial de l’éducation de Chungbuk mettait en place une série de mécanismes de soutien, tels qu’un centre d’appel dédié et des plateformes intégrées. Toutefois, la réalité sur le terrain s’avère bien plus complexe, le manque de personnel et l’insuffisance d’espaces disponibles posant de sérieuses contraintes.
Personnel insuffisant : un obstacle majeur
Lors d’un forum tenu en mars par le Conseil provincial de Chungbuk, les participants ont insisté sur le fait que, malgré un consensus sur les objectifs du programme, les écoles peinent à faire face en raison d’une préparation inadéquate. Selon certaines sources, des travailleurs sur le terrain auraient même démissionné en raison de la charge administrative excessive. Le manque de personnel qualifié reste l’un des défis les plus urgents à résoudre pour assurer le succès du Neulbom School.
La répercussion sur les travailleurs et le système éducatif
D’autres critiques émanent des syndicats et travailleurs de l’éducation, qui soulignent que la satisfaction apparente des étudiants et parents ne reflète pas la réalité des conditions de travail. Le bureau de l’éducation de Chungbuk, tout en se félicitant de la satisfaction élevée des usagers, doit toutefois répondre à la demande croissante de renforcement en expertise professionnelle. Shin Jae-jung, responsable des finances et du bien-être au bureau de l’éducation, affirme que le système est encore en phase initiale, et des améliorations sont attendues à mesure que le programme se stabilise.
Affrontement entre enseignants et travailleurs du secteur extra-scolaire : une situation tendue
Le terrain se montre également propice à des conflits de rôles entre instructeurs, travailleurs officiels de soins, et personnel de Neulbom. L’absence de définition claire des responsabilités contribue à cette confusion, comme en témoignent les remarques de Yoon Song-hee, une travailleuse dans ce secteur. Ce manque de clarté risque d’ébranler la cohésion au sein du système éducatif.
Vers une réforme structurelle : au-delà des statistiques
Malgré un taux de satisfaction de plus de 90 % selon le Bureau provincial de l’éducation, les revendications pour une réforme structurelle demeurent fortes. Les statistiques, bien qu’encourageantes, doivent promptement être traduites en actions concrètes afin de garantir un environnement de travail durable pour les professionnels impliqués. L’amplification des capacités en termes de personnel, sécurité, et espaces reste prioritaire.
Prospective : quel avenir pour le Neulbom School ?
À l’avenir, le succès du Neulbom School dépendra de sa capacité à évoluer au-delà des difficultés actuelles. Le gouvernement doit impérativement allouer un budget suffisant et établir des cadres légaux robustes pour soutenir cette initiative novatrice. Une attention particulière à l’amélioration des conditions de travail et à la structuration des rôles pourrait non seulement stabiliser le programme, mais aussi donner un élan positif à l’ensemble du système éducatif sud-coréen.
Pour que l’ambition d’une « école toujours aussi chaleureuse que le printemps » se matérialise, comme le promet le slogan, il est incontournable que la mise en œuvre tienne compte des retours d’expérience des acteurs de terrain. Grâce à une approche qui équilibre innovation et réalité pratique, le Neulbom School pourrait devenir un modèle de référence en matière d’éducation intégrée et soutenue par l’État.
Source : Newscj
Laisser un commentaire