Seoul National University professor Shin Jong-ho invited for Nov. 11 lecture on causes of declining literacy and home guidance strategies
Registration opens Monday for 400 parents on a first-come, first-served basis via the Songpa Learn education portal — free of charge
"Some students read the word for 'rainy weather' and think it is a city name, or see the word for 'today' and assume it means Friday."
Amid growing concern among educators over declining student literacy, Songpa-gu in Seoul will hold a special parent lecture on Nov. 11 to address parents' worries about their children's reading comprehension and share practical reading and conversation strategies they can use at home.
A survey of 1,356 teachers nationwide by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Unions found that 96.5 percent of respondents said student literacy had declined over the past five years. Particularly, 80.2 percent said students lacked the ability to identify the key points of textbooks and explanatory texts.
In response, the district has invited Shin Jong-ho, a professor in the Department of Education at Seoul National University, to deliver a lecture titled "My Child Read It but Still Doesn't Understand — What Do They Need?" The session will examine the causes of declining literacy and the role parents can play in improving their children's reading comprehension.
Professor Shin has shared insights on learning and child education through programs including KBS's "Issue Pick with Teacher," EBS's "Future Education Plus" and tvN's "You Quiz on the Block."
Under the subtitle "Parents can build their child's Korean literacy," the lecture will cover the relationship between declining literacy and academic performance, methods for developing children's ability to understand what they read and think independently, and reading and conversation habits families can practice at home along with the parent's role. A question-and-answer session will follow, giving parents the chance to ask directly about their children's literacy and learning.
The Songpa Learn Parent Lecture series is a parent education program that selects topics of high interest to parents — including children's career paths, character development and academic progress — and invites subject-matter experts to share educational insights. The district runs the program on an ongoing basis to keep pace with the changing educational environment and the needs of parents.
"Literacy is a critical foundation for all learning," Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Gang-seok said. "We will continue to provide diverse educational opportunities so that parents can better understand their children and offer meaningful support at home, in step with the evolving educational landscape."
The free lecture is open to about 400 parents of children from preschool through high school. Registration opens at 10 a.m. Monday on the Songpa Learn education portal on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact the Songpa-gu Office's Education Cooperation Division.
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