By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province is seeking to become the nation’s leader in English language education through adopting a new ordinance to support the expansion of relevant facilities.
This is the first time for a local administration to adopt an ordinance specifically for the purpose of facilitating general English language education, according to city officials Thursday.
Under on the ordinance, Pyeongtaek will establish an English education center and expand its budget for English education at schools while collaborating with the United States Forces Korea (USFK), which are relocating to the city, on new language projects.
``This will allow all citizens of Pyeontaek to gain easier access to learning English,’’ Mayor Song Myeong-ho said in a statement.
The ordinance will pave the way for the establishment of an English center offering classes at affordable prices.
In particular, children from low-income families and the disabled will be able to take the classes free of charge.
Pyeongtaek will also extend more financial assistance to schools in hiring native speakers and provide digital appliances for English classes.
In addition, it will establish a council for boosting English education with officials from the USFK and the city’s education office.
The council will develop projects such as youth English camps as well as sessions with USFK officers.