[News Today] Regional gap in overnight school trips

[LEAD]

Many school teachers are feeling burdened by field trips, and only about one in four elementary schools in Seoul is planning a school picnic. Overnight school trips have fallen even further.

In Seoul, only about 5 percent of elementary schools are planning one. But in Daegu, every elementary school plans to go. So what's driving such a wide gap? We take a look.

[REPORT]

A parent of a child attending an elementary school in Seoul.

She expressed disappointment in the fact that her child is missing out on various school experiences as there are fewer picnics or field trips.

Parent of elementary schooler /

There were many during kindergarten, almost every season. It would be nice if they could go out at least once a year.

It's not only field trips. Overnight school excursions have virtually disappeared in the capital area.

According to data obtained by KBS from education offices nationwide, only 5% of elementary schools in Seoul, 7% in Gyeonggi and 3% in Daejeon are planning overnight school trips.

It's a completely different situation in noncapital regions.

100% of schools in Daegu, 98% in Gyeongnam and 88% in Jeju have planned such events. Even in Gangwon where a student died during a field trip just a few years ago, the rate reaches 63%.

It's noted that the large number of parental complaints in the metropolitan area has led to the contraction in outdoor educational activities.

Prof. Bae Sang-hoon / Sungkyunkwan Univ.

Teachers shouldn’t take sole responsibility when dangerous. Instead of avoiding activities we should find solutions together.

There’s also the opinion that conditions for experiential learning are better in noncapital areas.

In Daegu, where all schools are preparing for school trips, the city's education office directly operates training centers and provide safety personnel to ease the teachers' burden.

Within this month the education ministry plans to draw up new measures such as strengthening teachers exemption from liability to help increase field trip activities.