2010년대 들어와 북한은 김정일에서 김정은 정권으로 이양되었다. 새로 출범한 김정은 정권은 집권 첫해인 2012년 5월부터 소학교를 방문하며 아동교육에 대한 관심을 이례적으로 표명하였다. 특히 북한교육 부문에 있어서 가장 특징적인 변화는 최고인민회의(2012.9.25)를 통해 ‘전반적 12년제 의무교육’을 선포한 것이다. 이는 1972년의 ‘전반적 11년제 의무교육’에 이어 40년 만에 변경된 것이다. 북한의 초등교육 기관인 ‘소학교’가 기존 4년제에서 5년제로 늘어나서 국제 표준 12년제 교육학제가 설정하게 된 것이다.
이처럼 최근 2010년대의 북한 소학교 교육은 매우 주요한 변화 상황을 보여 주고 있다. 또한 북한 당국은 스스로 교육에 대한 현대화를 부각하는 방법을 추구하고 있다. 교육에 대한 현대화는 컴퓨터 교육이나 영어 등의 외국어에 대해 더욱 더 관심을 부여하는 점이다. 아직도 북한은 기존의 정치사상교육에 대해서도 주목하고 있으며, 다양하게 변화된 교육 체제나 교수방법을 강조하고 있다. 이러한 변화가 2010년대 전후하여 북한 소학교 교육에 발현되고 있는 것은 북한의 교육적 상황에 대한 일단 개선을 시도하는 것으로 보인다. 이러한 현상은 북한에서 발행되는 2009년 이후의 『인민교육』과 2008년 이후의 『교원선전수첩』 그리고 『조선중앙년감』을 통해 파악할 수 있다. 물론 이 자료들은 북한교육을 선전하는 내용을 담고 있다. 그 내용에 대한 면밀한 분석을 통해 본 연구는 오늘날 북한 소학교 교육을 동태적으로 파악할 수 있게 된 것이다. 따라서 본 연구의 목적은 북한 소학교 교육의 현상과 실제에 대해 가감 없이 분석을 통해 북한 교육의 실제 속에서 북한사회를 파악하여야 한다는 것을 거듭 밝히고자 하는 것이다.
Entering into year 2010s, North Korea was engaged in the administration tranfer from Kim Jung-il to Kim Jung Eun. Since the beginning of rulling, Kim Jung Eun paid especial attention to elementary education and expressed by visiting schools. Plus, he held the Chosun Youth Scout 66 Celebration (6.6) in a such a scale there could be no comparison before and personally give 10 minutes speech. The noticeable change after the celebration is 12 year compulsory education passed by North Korean Supreme People's Assembly (9.25). It has been over 40 years, since 1972, the N. Korean took further step from 11 year compulsory education. The change is basically 5 years of elementary education from previous system of 4. In recent 2010s, North Korean education, viewed through significant changes, is pursuing the way North Korean authority can highlight the modernization of education and pre-exsisted pride. Modernization of education direct its focus into computer education and foreign languages such as English and leading it to new changes. This movement also seems to seek for understanding of economic knowledge. Meanwhile, the pre-existed political and ideological education are enforced with newly adapted teaching method and emphasizes the educational purpose. Even through these educational purposes, it creates strong paradox as the system still emphasizes the powerfulness of socialist nation. Based on these various contexts, the author is to understand the North Korean Education around 2010s. To pursue its purpose, we need thorough understanding of "People's Education, 2009", Teacher's Handbook, 2008", and "Annual Issue of Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Those materials contains contents of N. Korean's propaganda but still can be used to understand N. Korean's educational status. Through this paper, there shall not be any addition or subtraction on N. Koreans education analysis and provide deep understanding of their education standing and programs.
Entering into year 2010s, North Korea was engaged in the administration tranfer from Kim Jung-il to Kim Jung Eun. Since the beginning of rulling, Kim Jung Eun paid especial attention to elementary education and expressed by visiting schools. Plus, he held the Chosun Youth Scout 66 Celebration (6.6) in a such a scale there could be no comparison before and personally give 10 minutes speech. The noticeable change after the celebration is 12 year compulsory education passed by North Korean Supreme People's Assembly (9.25). It has been over 40 years, since 1972, the N. Korean took further step from 11 year compulsory education. The change is basically 5 years of elementary education from previous system of 4. In recent 2010s, North Korean education, viewed through significant changes, is pursuing the way North Korean authority can highlight the modernization of education and pre-exsisted pride. Modernization of education direct its focus into computer education and foreign languages such as English and leading it to new changes. This movement also seems to seek for understanding of economic knowledge. Meanwhile, the pre-existed political and ideological education are enforced with newly adapted teaching method and emphasizes the educational purpose. Even through these educational purposes, it creates strong paradox as the system still emphasizes the powerfulness of socialist nation. Based on these various contexts, the author is to understand the North Korean Education around 2010s. To pursue its purpose, we need thorough understanding of "People's Education, 2009", Teacher's Handbook, 2008", and "Annual Issue of Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Those materials contains contents of N. Korean's propaganda but still can be used to understand N. Korean's educational status. Through this paper, there shall not be any addition or subtraction on N. Koreans education analysis and provide deep understanding of their education standing and programs.