Improving the education system, enhancing science and technology research and building an innovation-driven economy form a key part of President-elect Park Geun-hye’s economic strategy.

Kwak Byong-sun, key architect of her educational reform, and Chang Soon-heung, Korea’s top nuclear power scientist, are in charge of laying the groundwork for the vision for future growth as the leaders of the presidential transition team’s subcommittee on education, science and technology

The team is mulling over a plan to introduce new textbooks for secondary level. Park has said new textbooks will be upgraded to allow students to study without the assistance of private lessons. Park plans to impose a new rule prohibiting primary and secondary schools from writing exam questions that require students to study ahead of their educational level.

Her educational policies also include expanding the physical education curriculum for elementary, middle and high schools, and reducing the burden of tuition fees by increasing government support to students from low-income families.

Park believes that building a “creative economy” will require a powerful new ministry to oversee the country’s science and technology policies and industrialize innovations.

The Korea Herald reports:

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130114000629