National School for the Gifted to Be Established

A national school for the gifted is to be established by 2003. It will select excellent students -, at a ratio of one per 10,000 students - for a special educational program. In addition, more than 1,000 classes for the gifted will be set up in public schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools. The national school for the gifted will offer courses for elementary, middle, and high school pupils.

All elementary, middle and high schools will receive access to the Internet by the end of this year, and the schools will be able to select students, organize educational courses, and decide tuition fees independently, as long as their actions do not threaten the drive to equalize high-school standards.

On March 27, the goverment held a public hearing on its "three-year knowledge-based economic development plan," featuring the projects detailed above, at the Korea Development Institute (KDI).

Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) Assistant Secretary Lee Kun-kyoung said, "Including the budget of $4.6 billion already passed this year, a budget of $17.9-22.3 billion will be allocated to this plan over three years. "

by Seo kyoung-ho