The Ministry of Education has announced the launch of the ‘Vocational High School 2.0’ contest, aimed at fostering innovative and community-driven education programs. Schools selected through this initiative will receive 200 million won annually for five years to develop autonomous curricula integrating local resources, universities, and industries.
From April 1 to June 30, high schools can apply for the program, allowing them to design specialized learning experiences in collaboration with local governments, universities, and corporations. Selected schools will have the flexibility to introduce advanced courses in life sciences, physics, and interdisciplinary studies, leveraging expertise from university faculty and research institutes. They can also organize academic festivals open to students from various schools.
The Ministry of Education plans to select around 20 high schools this year, including new applicants and institutions conditionally chosen in last year’s recruitment. These schools will be officially designated as ‘Vocational High School 2.0’ institutions in March 2025, with operations extending until February 2031.
Additionally, schools will benefit from policy exemptions, including the ability to allocate up to 100% of their teacher quota to invited faculty and request additional teacher assignments to enhance learning opportunities.
“We will select schools that will play a pivotal role in innovating local public education”, said Cho Eun-joo, acting head of the Ministry of Education’s Division of Educational Policy. “Our goal is to strengthen local education systems and promote community-driven learning innovations”.
Final selection results will be announced in July, marking a significant step toward modernizing vocational education and strengthening regional educational ecosystems
