Seoul Education Office's Relationship-Building Program Draws 22,000 Students

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's "Positive Relationship-Building with New Classmates" program has expanded to 159 schools this year, according to an exclusive report. A total of 21,724 students across 930 classes are participating, with expectations for improved peer relationships and school violence prevention.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 8th, schools participating in the relationship-building program—aimed at "creating a classroom culture of respect and consideration through positive relationships"—include 94 elementary schools, 50 middle schools, and 15 high schools as of March. Launched in 2023, the program began with 18,858 students across 732 classes in Seoul schools during its first year and has since attracted more than 20,000 students annually. A survey conducted last year showed strong student response, with 97.3% expressing satisfaction with the program's effectiveness.

This year's program consists of customized school support from a consulting team, school violence prevention education in partnership with related organizations, and establishment of school culture responsibility agreements. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to select an additional 20 schools and 100 classes for support by year-end to prevent school violence and foster relationships.

A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official stated, "This program is our school violence prevention education policy that helps students express their thoughts and feelings positively, build mutually respectful relationships, resolve conflicts peacefully through dialogue, restore relationships, and create personal growth and peaceful school communities through student-centered activities." The official added, "The goal is to shift from lecture-based school violence prevention education to recovery-focused, student-participatory prevention education."