Digital Career Classroom for Students with Developmental Disabilities Opens at Miral School, Offering Restaurant and Café Job Experiences

[Financial News] A digital classroom where students with developmental disabilities can virtually experience workplaces such as restaurants and cafés and explore career options has opened at Miral School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Miral Welfare Foundation said on the 28th that, with support from Hana Financial Group, it had established a Digital Career Exploration Classroom at Miral School, a special school affiliated with the foundation, and held an opening ceremony on the 27th. The ceremony was attended by Ham Young-joo, chairman of Hana Financial Group; Jung Hyung-seok, executive director of Miral Welfare Foundation; and Hong Jae-eun, principal of Miral School, among others.
Students can use digital devices in the classroom to learn about a range of job tasks. The program focuses on developing the basic vocational skills needed for employment and independent living in the community.
In addition to kindergarten and elementary, middle, and high school programs, Miral School also operates a vocational training program. The program provides vocational education to students eligible for special education who have completed high school.
The classroom was established as part of an initiative sponsored by Hana Financial Group to strengthen educational capabilities at special schools and among their staff. In addition to improving students’ vocational education environments, the initiative also supports the psychological and emotional well-being of faculty and other staff, as well as the strengthening of their educational capabilities.
Professional counseling, meditation, and stress-management programs are provided to faculty and other staff. The school also offers training in the latest teaching methods for special education, special lectures by prominent figures, and programs to re-examine educational philosophy.
Hana Financial Group plans to select additional special schools in Incheon and Daejeon and establish digital learning environments at three sites in total, including Miral School, by the first half of next year.
Ham Young-joo, chairman of Hana Financial Group, said, “I find it meaningful that we can provide an educational environment for students and staff at special schools.”
Jung Hyung-seok, executive director of Miral Welfare Foundation, said, “I hope that the skills students build here will help more of them live independently in their communities after graduation.”

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