By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Parents in Seoul are demanding more native English-speaking teachers for their children at schools. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), more and more ward offices in Seoul have allotted money to recruit foreign teachers because of the growing demand from parents in each district.
Last year, some 5.24 billion won was collected from four ward offices and the Seoul Metropolitan Government to employ native English teachers at schools in the capital.
The education authority expects the amount of money will double this year to 10 billion won.
``Many ward office chiefs vowed to increase the number of native-speaking teachers in their election campaigns. To that extent, they are increasing the necessary funds,’’ said Choi Chun-ok, a supervisor in charge of recruiting foreign English teachers at the office.
As the ward offices do not have staff to select qualified foreign teachers, except Gangnam-gu, they are leaving recruitment to the SMOE, she added.
More than five ward offices plan to make an agreement with SMOE on Thursday and Friday this week for the employment of foreign teachers in their districts.
Jongno-Gu Office has reserved 750 million won for the project; Nowon-Gu, 520 million won; Dobong-Gu, 400 billion won; Jungnang-Gu, 300 million won; and Gwanak-Gu 200 million won.
Under the agreement, 31 elementary and 15 secondary schools will have foreign English teachers from the spring semester.
SMOE has recruited native English-speaking teachers for schools since September 2005 to teach at 572 elementary and 665 secondary schools.