# Jeonnam-Gwangju educational reform initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/jeonnam-gwangju-educational-reform-initiatives > Updated: 2026-09-21T02:30:55.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Office of Education is implementing several new academic initiatives. In September 2025, the office will launch the nation’s first ‘Jeonnam-Gwangju Regional Joint Academic Achievement Test’. This program consolidates previous separate mock exams for Gwangju and Jeonnam to assist high school seniors in preparing for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). The new system will utilize computerized OMR grading and provide individual score analysis reports to help students identify subject-specific weaknesses. Following these developments, the education office has established a dedicated task force to prepare for the introduction of descriptive and essay-type assessments beginning in the 2027 academic year. This reform aims to shift away from rote memorization and multiple-choice testing toward evaluation systems that encourage critical thinking and logical expression. To support this transition, the office is conducting public hearings and plans to provide specialized teacher training, evaluation manuals, and refined legal guidelines to ensure fairness and objectivity. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-21: Jeonnam-Gwangju Education Office to implement essay-type assessments The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Office of Education is preparing to introduce essay-type assessments by 2027 to foster critical thinking and move away from rote memorization. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jeonnam-gwangju-education-office-to-implement-essay-type-assessments ### 2026-09-10: Jeonnam-Gwangju Office of Education to launch regional joint academic test The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Office of Education will launch a new regional joint academic achievement test in September 2025 to provide computerized grading and detailed CSAT analysis. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jeonnam-gwangju-office-of-education-to-launch-regional-joint-academic-test --- Cite as: Jeonnam-Gwangju educational reform initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/jeonnam-gwangju-educational-reform-initiatives