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According to Yonhap News,
The Toronto Star said on March 19th that Branksome Hall, a prestigious private school of Toronto plans to establish its branch school in Jeju Province, Korea’s famous honeymoon destination with beautiful natural scenery.
Jeju Province aims to become a global education city, and has attracted 12 international schools and created a favorable environment for English education. Branksome Hall is the only Canadian school to be part of Jeju’s plan.
Branksome Hall is an independent, non-denominational girls’ day and boarding school with the history of 107 years, and signed an agreement to establish a branch school in Jeju with Jeju City last June. The School plans to start the construction of school buildings including a skating rink and the landscaping work nearby Seogwipo City and aims to open the school September in 2012.
The Toronto Star reported that the Korean government estimated about 30,000 households spent USD 60,000 annually in sending their children to Western countries for study and that English education was a very huge business in Korea.
Project Manager Christopher Bogden of Branksome Hall said the Korean government expects the branch school will resolve the issue of ‘separated families’ generated by overseas study and attract excellent human resources in Asia.
Principal Karen Murton of Branksome Hall said “we were pessimistic at first about the Korean government’s suggestion to establish a branch school in Jeju, since the school board members were not sure whether maintaining our prestigious curriculum is possible half way around the earth.”
Branksome Hall decided to accept the proposal last June on the condition that the Korean government pays for the construction and grants autonomy in much of the school administration.
All instruction of ‘Branksome Hall Asia’ in Jeju will be only in English except for the Korean history and language classes.
Source: Yonhap News (March 20, 2011)
**This is an English translation of a Korean news article.