Three Autonomous Private High Schools Returned This Year Alone... Student Shortage and High School Credit System Accelerate Conversion to General High Schools

Dongsung High, Hangaram High, and Sungmoon High Convert in Succession
Financial Struggles Hit Hard Due to Difficulty Recruiting Freshmen
Advantages Diluted by Abolishing Selection Rights and Introducing Blind Screening
Ministry of Education to Expand Financial Support for Early Conversion of General High Schools

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] This year, three autonomous private high schools (Jasago) have chosen to convert to general high schools. This decision comes as the competition rate for Jasago continues to decline, and with the implementation of the high school credit system in 2025, maintaining Jasago status is deemed impractical.

The three schools in Seoul that decided to convert from Jasago this year are Dongseong High School, Hangaram High School, and Sungmoon High School. Among them, Sungmoon High School was one of the eight schools that filed a lawsuit against the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to invalidate the cancellation of their Jasago approval. All eight schools won in the first trial, but with the second trial verdict pending, one school’s declaration to convert to a general high school has somewhat weakened their position.

The common reasons cited by the Jasago schools opting for conversion are difficulties in recruiting new students and the reduced necessity to maintain Jasago status due to the implementation of the high school credit system. In the case of Sungmoon High School, a survey conducted among parents of first and second graders showed that 80.4% of respondents (56%) agreed with the conversion.

Jeon Heung-bae, principal of Sungmoon High School, stated in a position paper, "Jasago schools are struggling to recruit students, and our school has reached a situation where its very existence is threatened. The general admission quota is not being met each year, and even in the social consideration admission category, recruitment is almost nonexistent, resulting in a significant number of unfilled seats."

Principal Jeon added, "The planned abolition of Jasago in 2025 is expected to make the situation even more difficult. Due to changes in the educational environment for the implementation of the revised curriculum and the high school credit system, many elements that differentiated Jasago from general high schools in terms of curriculum operation have diminished. Once the high school credit system is fully implemented, Sungmoon High School will be able to realize its educational curriculum and activities without maintaining the Jasago framework."

Hangaram High School, which declared conversion in July, also explained, "Due to the sharp decline in the school-age population, the ongoing policy to abolish Jasago since 2013, new college admission policies based on simplified student records and high school blind admissions, and the implementation of full free high school education, Jasago schools are facing great difficulties in recruiting students. As of July 2021, the cumulative vacancy rate centered on the social integration admission category has already reached 15.8% of the total recruitment quota. We judged that once the high school credit system is fully implemented, Hangaram High School will be able to implement its educational curriculum and activities without necessarily maintaining the Jasago framework."

In July 2019, members of the Seoul Autonomous Private High School Parents' Association held a relay rally on the 23rd in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, urging the cancellation of the designation loss. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

In the 2021 academic year, the competition rate for new students at Seoul Jasago was 1.09 to 1, down from 1.19 to 1 the previous year. The decline in the school-age population, abolition of student selection rights, introduction of the high school blind admission system, and the 2025 policy to abolish Jasago have diluted the advantages of Jasago, leading to a drop in competition rates.

Jasago schools do not receive government financial support but contribute 5% of total student tuition fees as corporate transfers to cover school operating costs. A decrease in new students directly impacts school finances. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, recognizing these difficulties, has even offered 'general high school conversion support funds' as an incentive to allow tuition reductions for existing students.

The education authorities are expected to accelerate the policy to abolish Jasago. Earlier, the Ministry of Education notified its 'agreement' to cancel the designation of three Jasago schools and decided to expand financial support and assist system restructuring if Jasago schools convert early to general high schools before 2025. Considering the significant financial difficulties immediately after conversion, support will be expanded, and schools will be guaranteed the ability to operate their unique curricula, such as designation as leading schools for the high school credit system and specialized subject schools after conversion.

The Ministry of Education stated, "While respecting the court’s first trial ruling regarding the cancellation of Jasago designation, this decision pertains to procedural issues in the operational performance evaluation. Amid rapid changes across social and economic sectors, the restructuring of the high school system to transition to future education will proceed without disruption."

The civic group 'Society Without Private Education Worries' commented, "The remaining task is to firmly establish the high school credit system according to its purpose and intent, creating an environment where all schools can operate quality curricula and ending the inequality structure where privileges are excessively granted to a few. The remaining Jasago schools should follow the precedent set by these three schools and join the spirit of the times by converting to general high schools. The government should not only rely on voluntary conversion by Jasago schools."