Gyeonggi Province: "English Villages Essential for Public Education"

Gyeonggi Province refuted Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Human Resources Kim Jin-pyo's remarks calling for a halt to additional English Village construction, stating that "English Villages are absolutely necessary for fostering talent suited to an era of international competition."

The province countered through a position paper, arguing that "the expansion of English Villages can replace unnecessary overseas English language programs, prevent foreign currency outflow, reduce excessive private education costs, and improve English education accessibility for low-income families and other disadvantaged groups."

Addressing Deputy Prime Minister Kim's claims about excessive operating costs, the province stated that "1.709 trillion won has been invested in construction of three English Villages (Ansan, Paju, and Yangpyeong), and the Ansan camp requires 27.3 billion won in annual operating costs." However, the province countered that "approximately 29,000 students have experienced English education through the Ansan camp, saving 21.3 billion won in foreign currency, and once the Paju and Yangpyeong camps open, 71,700 students will be able to receive education, generating annual foreign currency savings of 110.8 billion won."

The province also disputed Deputy Prime Minister Kim's claim that "100 million won per school would enable the recruitment of three native English teachers," arguing that "hiring one native English teacher costs 60 million won annually, and there are difficulties in recruiting qualified candidates." The province added that "Deputy Prime Minister Kim said during his September visit to the Ansan English Village camp that 'Gyeonggi Province did what the central government should have done.'"

The province cited survey results showing that 98 percent of English Village participants reported reduced anxiety when interacting with foreigners, 96 percent of intensive four-week course students reported improved English proficiency, and 84 percent of camp participants responded that they would "like to participate again."

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Kim attended a meeting of elementary school principals from the province held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education on the 31st of last month. Regarding successive establishment of English Villages by some local governments, he stated, "We must stop building English Villages." <Yonhapnews>