The purpose of this Act is to prescribe matters necessary for promoting science, mathematics and information education, which are core subjects to prepare for the change of the industrial environment, so as to contribute to enhancing national competitiveness and to national and social development by contributing to cultivating multidisciplinary persons of talent to lead our future.
The terms used in this Act shall be defined as follows:
| 1. | The term "science, mathematics and information education" means education concerning science, mathematics and information provided in educational institutions; |
| 2. | The term "educational institution" means any of the following schools or institutions: |
| (c) | Education and training institutions, student training institutions, research institutes for education, etc. which are established in accordance with education-related statutes and regulations, or municipal ordinances; |
| 3. | The term "science, mathematics and information teachers" means teachers taking charge of science, mathematics and information education in educational institutions and education-dedicated officials prescribed in Article 2 (2) of the Educational Officials Act. |
| Article 3 (Relationship to Other Statutes) |
Except as otherwise provided in other statutes, matters necessary for promoting science, mathematics and information education shall be governed by this Act.
| Article 4 (Basic Direction-Setting for Science, Mathematics and Information Education) |
| (1) | Environment for science education shall be created to develop scientific refinement, scientific knowledge and inquiry ability, and scientific creativity. |
| (2) | Environment for mathematics education shall be created to develop mathematical refinement, mathematical knowledge and problem-solving ability, and mathematical creativity. |
| (3) | Environment for information education shall be created to develop informational and cultural refinement, informational knowledge and problem-solving ability, and computational thinking. |
| (4) | Educational environment shall be created to foster creative talented persons through multi-disciplinary teaching of at least two subjects in addition to individual education of science, mathematics and information. |
| Article 5 (Duties of State and Local Governments) |
| (1) | The State and local governments shall formulate policies for the following matters to promote science, mathematics and information education, as prescribed by this Act or other relevant statutes and regulations: |
| 1. | Formulating comprehensive plans for science, mathematics and information education; |
| 2. | Fostering and securing science, mathematics and information teachers and improving their treatment and expertise; |
| 3. | Developing and disseminating teaching tools and educational materials (including software; hereinafter the same shall apply) for science, mathematics and information education, and expanding and improving laboratory and practice facilities; |
| 4. | Developing curriculums and programs for science, mathematics and information education; |
| 5. | Building bases for distance learning of science, mathematics and information; |
| 6. | Establishing and operating exhibition and experience facilities related to science, mathematics and information education, such as science museums and mathematics museums; |
| 7. | Providing subsidies for experimental and practical training, research activities and scholarships; |
| 8. | Providing aid to research organizations related to science, mathematics and information education; |
| 9. | Holding and supporting various events for youths aiming at the promotion of science, mathematics and information education; |
| 10. | Other matters necessary for promoting science, mathematics and information education. |
| (2) | Where it is deemed that a local government demonstrates poor performance in the implementation of policies for promoting science, mathematics and information education or takes insufficient budgetary measures therefor, the State may recommend such local government to take necessary measures, such as the increase of budget. |
| Article 6 (Use of Research Facilities) |
| (1) | Where necessary for using the facilities of the State, local governments, national or public enterprises, and institutions or organizations contributed or subsidized by the State or local governments for research, experiments or learning for science, mathematics and information, any educational institution may request the use of such facilities. |
| (2) | The head of any institution or organization shall, in receipt of a request for the use of facilities pursuant to paragraph (1), actively cooperate therewith unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. |
| Article 7 (Establishment and Operation of Multidisciplinary Teaching Committee for Science, Mathematics and Information) |
| (1) | A Multidisciplinary Teaching Committee for Science, Mathematics and Information (hereinafter referred to as the "Multidisciplinary Teaching Committee") shall be established under the supervision of the Minister of Education to deliberate on the following matters necessary for promoting science, mathematics and information education: |
| 1. | Matters concerning basic policies for promoting science, mathematics and information education; |
| 2. | Matters concerning formulation and adjustment of comprehensive plans and multidisciplinary teaching for promoting science, mathematics and information education; |
| 3. | Matters concerning the examination and evaluation of performance of basic policies and comprehensive plans prescribed in subparagraphs 1 and 2; |
| 4. | Other matters necessary for promoting science, mathematics and information education. |
| (2) | Other matters necessary for the organization and operation of the Multidisciplinary Teaching Committee shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 8 (Designation of Research Institutes for Science, Mathematics and Information Education) |
The Minister of Education may designate research institutes or organizations related to science, mathematics and information education as research institutes for science, mathematics and information education to perform the following duties:
| 1. | Research on the details, methods and evaluation of science, mathematics and information education; |
| 2. | Research on the details, methods and evaluation of creative multidisciplinary teaching; |
| 3. | Developing teaching tools and educational materials for science, mathematics and information education; |
| 4. | Developing and operating distance learning programs for science, mathematics and information education; |
| 5. | Providing training to enhance the capacities of science, mathematics and information teachers; |
| 6. | Promoting international cooperation for science, mathematics and information education; |
| 7. | Other duties necessary for promoting science, mathematics and information education. |
| Article 9 (Financial Support) |
| (1) | The State and local governments may, within budgetary limits, provide financial support necessary for science, mathematics and information education to educational institutions and research institutes for science, mathematics and information education. |
| (2) | The State and local governments may, within budgetary limits, provide relevant corporations or organizations with subsidies necessary to support investigative activities and research activities of students and teachers on science, mathematics and information education. |
| Article 10 (Securing of Teaching Tools, Educational Materials, Exclusive-Use Classrooms for Promotion of Science, Mathematics and Information Education) |
| (1) | The State and local governments shall take measures necessary for educational institutions to secure teaching tools and educational materials to promote science, mathematics and information education. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall endeavor to enable educational institutions to secure exclusive-use classrooms to promote science, mathematics and information education. |
| (3) | The superintendent of education of each Special Metropolitan City, Metropolitan City, Special Self-Governing City, Do and Special Self-Governing Province shall determine the types of and criteria for the teaching tools and educational materials prescribed in paragraph (1) and exclusive-use classrooms prescribed in paragraph (2). |
| Article 11 (International Cooperation) |
The State and local governments may formulate and implement plans for international cooperation with foreign governments, international organizations or foreign institutions, training institutions, research institutes, industrial entities, etc. related to science, mathematics and information education, including the following matters:
| 1. | Exchanging information on science, mathematics and information education; |
| 2. | Exchanging and training science, mathematics and information teachers and relevant experts; |
| 3. | Participating in various activities related to science, mathematics and information education; |
| 4. | Other matters to enhance international cooperation necessary for promoting science, mathematics and information education. |
| Article 12 (Requesting Cooperation from Relevant Administrative Agencies) |
| (1) | The State and local governments may, if necessary for formulating policies prescribed in Article 5 (1), request the cooperation of the heads of relevant administrative agencies or the heads of relevant institutions or organizations, such as the provision of materials. |
| (2) | Any person who receives a request for cooperation under paragraph (1) shall comply therewith unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. |
ADDENDA
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (Relationship to Other Statutes and Regulations)
Where other statutes and regulations have cited the previous Science Education Promotion Act or the provisions thereof as at the time this Act is in force, they shall, if there are any provisions that correspond thereto in this Act, be deemed to have cited this Act or the corresponding provisions of this Act in lieu of the previous Science Education Promotion Act or the provisions thereof.