Yuseong-su, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member, Urges Comprehensive Review of Teacher Supply Policy

Uniform Teacher Supply Policy Not Reflecting Local Educational Realities, Hindering Public Education Revitalization

Yuseong-su, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Yoo Seong-su, chairman of the Education Committee of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, stated in a press release on the 6th that “the Ministry of Education’s teacher supply and demand policy, which does not reflect the reality of local education at all, must be thoroughly reconsidered.”

On the 23rd of last month, the Ministry of Education announced a plan to reduce the scale of new hires for public elementary school teachers from 2021 to 2024 at the Social Relations Ministers’ Meeting.

According to Statistics Korea’s projections, the number of elementary school students in 2030 is expected to decrease by 540,000 more than initially anticipated, reaching 1.72 million, leading to a plan to reduce teacher recruitment. The Jeonnam Office of Education has identified that while the number of elementary school teachers should increase by 78, the number of secondary school teachers must be reduced by 224.

Although the reduction in teachers is attributed to the decline in the school-age population, overcrowded classes still exist in large cities, and rural areas face teacher shortages, preventing students from fully securing their right to education.

Chairman Yoo argued, “Jeonnam, with many farming and fishing villages, faces educational disparities between urban and rural areas, emphasizing the role of public education. A uniform teacher supply and demand policy based on the decline in the school-age population will further exacerbate the educational gap between urban and rural areas.”

He continued, “Jeonnam education is putting all its efforts into overcoming the social crisis it faces through policies such as saving small schools and village school policies linked to local communities. I cannot help but ask for whom the education policy that does not reflect the local reality is truly intended,” and urged, “The Ministry of Education’s teacher supply and demand policy must be thoroughly reconsidered.”