Yeomyeong School, an alternative school for North Korean defectors, said in an educational performance analysis report released on the 27th to mark its 20th anniversary: "Most of the students were born in China, and it is necessary to supplement Korean language education and unification education."
According to the report, 88 % of this year's Yeomyung School students (91 students) were born in China and 81 % attended a Chinese school. The rate of North Korean school experience was only 7 %. On the other hand, a survey of 134 graduates found that 75 % were born in North Korea and 66 % attended school in North Korea.
The rapid increase in the number of Chinese-born students is due to the fact that many North Korean defectors who recently entered the country fled North Korea before the novel coronavirus (Corona 19) pandemic and entered the country after staying in China.
Yeomyeong School explained that many of these children grew up thinking their mothers were Chinese, are often confused about their identity, do not know the Korean language and have little awareness of unification.
Moreover, since these were not North Korean defectors, the government's support for education was relatively insufficient. The day before, the National Assembly passed an amendment to the "Law on Protection and Settlement Assistance for North Korean Defectors," providing a legal basis for providing educational assistance to children born in third countries to North Korean defectors.
Yeomyung School, established in 2004, has produced more than 400 graduates in 20 years. By obtaining academic approval from the Education Bureau, we have reached a level where we can offer integrated middle and high school courses with 100 students.
Vice Unification Minister Kim Soo-kyung said in a congratulatory speech at the 20th anniversary ceremony held that day, "It will be a stepping stone toward free and peaceful unification for North Korean defectors and their families, who are called 'the unification that came first,' to settle down stably in our society and live happily together," he said.
Reporter Yoo Ji-hye keep@segye.com
[ⓒ세계일보 & Segye.com, 무단전재및재배포금지]
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