Impact of COVID-19?… Seoul Private Elementary School Competition Rate Hits Record High at 11.7 to 1

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] This year, the average competition rate for 38 private elementary schools in Seoul reached 11.7 to 1, marking an 'all-time high.'

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 7th, the average competition rate for private elementary schools in Seoul for the 2022 academic year was 11.7 to 1, a significant increase from the previous year (6.8 to 1). There were also six schools where the competition rate exceeded 20 to 1.

Until last year, the competition rate for private elementary schools was around 2 to 1, but it surged sharply starting last year as multiple applications became possible.

Originally, private elementary schools held public lotteries on the same day with parents and students attending. However, due to COVID-19, non-face-to-face lotteries were conducted, allowing multiple applications, which the education office views as the reason for the increased competition rates.

In particular, this year, it is also analyzed that private elementary schools responded more actively to the COVID-19 situation than public elementary schools, increasing parents' preference and significantly raising the competition rate.

In fact, most public elementary schools switched to remote classes due to COVID-19, but there were ongoing criticisms that the quality of lessons was poor compared to private elementary schools.

Many private elementary schools strengthened their own quarantine measures and maintained offline classes instead of remote learning.