President Lee Myung-bak visited Duksung Girls’ Middle School in downtown Seoul today and held a discussion with teachers and parents of the students. The school has recently launched an after-school tutoring program to meet the educational demand of students at various levels of achievement.

Duksung Girls’ Middle School dissuaded parents from sending their children to private institutes and asked them to take advantage of the school’s new program. The after-school tutoring classes have been well received by both parents and students. For the sake of the program, even the principal, who usually just takes care of administrative affairs, teaches the students. Teachers are also fervently helping their students, teaching from 7:00 in the morning till 9:00 in the evening. In addition to the program, the school has opened its door to its graduates so that they can use school facilities to study.

During the discussion, President Lee lauded the school by saying, “The dedicated leadership of the principal and passion of the teachers are the centerpiece of restored trust in the public education. They have helped win the confidence of the parents, who preferred private institutes, through qualitative education at school exceeding the quality of private education.” He also stressed that, now when the economic situation is tough, it is time for the country to increase investment in education and carry out educational reforms in an effort to prepare for the future of the Republic.

At the meeting, Cheong Chun-ran, a mother of one of the students, said, “I was surprised to hear the school’s proposal for after-school classes, so we called family meetings several times. But now, we are happy that the cost of private education was reduced to 160,000 won from over 1 million won a month thanks to the after-school program.” She went on to express appreciation to the school for improved school grades and helping her highly nervous daughter suffering from stress from private tutoring and late homecoming to regain her smile.

Kim Yon-I, another mother, also expressed great satisfaction over school programs. She noted that her daughter was benefiting from the combination of after-school classes and the example of the teachers’ great character and love as well as improved physical fitness gained through the school’s policy of encouraging every student to participate in one extra curricular activity.

Kim Ji-hyun, a teacher, said, “I have seen several students from low-income families who could hardly afford to attend private institutions gain admission to the specialized high schools they wanted with the help of after-school classes. Although it is physically challenging, I feel greatly rewarded as a teacher.”