Nation Consolidates Educational Foundation
In recent years the overall educational foundation of the PRC has been further consolidated.
There has been a tangible improvement in educational structure and the ranks of teaching staff. Hundreds of comprehensive schools, at least 630 schools, 590 branch schools and 500 kindergartens were built or remodelled across the country.
A remarkable progress has been made in improving the educational structure in a rational and efficient manner and putting the teaching contents and methods onto a higher level.
The higher education sector has updated the teaching management system of universities in such a way as to train more talents capable of playing a key role in the development of science and technology and the economy.
Kim Il Sung University and other universities have introduced a full credit system while Pyongyang University of Education No. 1, Pyongyang Teachers Training College and others have developed and introduced an integrated teaching management system.
Selective courses have been adopted by all senior middle schools, given that the general basic knowledge has been dealt with up to junior middle-school course. In particular, a considerable increase of technical senior middle schools and technical classes in provinces allows students to acquire more than one technical skill needed for the development of relevant regions.
On the principle of making primary and secondary education theoretical, the second universal 12-year compulsory education programme was studied and worked out on a high level, reference materials and teaching plans were newly compiled and written in conformity with the characteristics of the kinds of schools, and the compilation of necessary textbooks was completed successfully.
Universities of science and technology have pioneered cutting-edge and cross-disciplinary science subjects, and vocational and factory colleges revised and supplemented their curricula.
Changdok School, Moranbong Middle School No. 1 and many other schools have introduced heuristic, exploratory and debate-oriented teaching methods to encourage the students to work harder.
It is noteworthy that Kim Chaek University of Technology and others have adopted research-oriented teaching and learning methods and applied innovative approaches to education, helping students improve their performance in study, research and practice.
Every year top ten teachers, best scientists and winners of the February 16 Science and Technology Prize are nominated.
Meanwhile, ranks of teachers have been further strengthened both in quality and quantity.
This year alone, more than 100 graduates from universities of education and teachers training colleges across the country have volunteered to teach at schools in remote islands and mountainous and rural areas, and many other graduates started their teaching career.
A lot of educational institutions have been built or facelifted.
In line with the trend of the development of modern education and the pedagogical requirements, an integrated school was opened in Rangnang District, Pyongyang, which embraces kindergarten, primary school and junior and senior middle school courses and is equipped with classrooms, laboratories, outdoor study site, multi-functional halls, educational apparatuses, sports appliances and teaching aids and furnishings. In addition, a large number of schools including Songga Senior Middle School in Kangdong County and Jisin Technical Senior Middle School in Huichon City have been turned into comprehensive schools. This has laid a foundation for placing secondary education onto a higher level.
Amid the ongoing construction and renovation projects, educational institutions such as Samhung Middle School, Taehung Primary School in Songyo District, Myongdang Primary School in Sangwon County and Pulgungori Kindergarten No. 1 in Pothonggang District have been spruced up. And Hamhung College of Medical Sciences, Pyongyang University of Computer Technology and Nampho College of Marine Transport have rebuilt dormitories.
The national educational information system has been put in place, and 20-odd experimental education centres including the life science experimental education centre of Kim Il Sung University and the general experimental education hall of Kim Chaek University of Technology and over 300 laboratories have been newly built to improve the quality of education.