Lee Jae-jung Administration Gyeonggi Office of Education 'Vocational High Schools Employment and Freshman Enrollment Rates' Last Place

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is implementing various policies to improve the employment rate of vocational high schools in the province, but the results have been minimal. Additionally, the enrollment rate of new students in vocational high schools is low compared to other cities and provinces, and there are calls to improve safety issues during on-site training.

According to the Ministry of Education and the Gyeonggi Office of Education on the 13th, the employment rate of graduates from specialized high schools, Meister high schools, and general high school vocational classes in the province last year was 51.5%, the lowest in the metropolitan area compared to Seoul (55.5%) and Incheon (57.2%), and 4 percentage points below the national average (55.4%). In particular, Gyeonggi Province ranked 15th out of 17 cities and provinces, following Jeonbuk (49.1%) and Gangwon (50.3%).

The decline in employment rates among specialized high schools within vocational high schools is even more severe. The employment rate of graduates from specialized high schools in the province has fallen for three consecutive years: 28.3% in 2019, 27.2% in 2020, and 26.1% in 2021.

To reverse the decline in employment rates at specialized high schools, the Gyeonggi Office of Education deployed 80 employment specialist teachers in 2020. They also signed MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with LH (Korea Land and Housing Corporation), the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and others to devise countermeasures, but no visible results have emerged.

The low enrollment rate of new students in vocational high schools, including specialized high schools in the province, remains a challenge to be addressed.

According to the vocational high school new student enrollment rates disclosed by Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member Hwang Dae-ho in 2020, Gyeonggi Province recorded 76.8% in 2018, 78.3% in 2019, and 76.0% in 2020, showing a decline each year. In contrast, Seoul recorded 87.1% in 2018, 88.9% in 2019, and 89.1% in 2020, while Incheon recorded 90.4% in 2018, 93.4% in 2019, and 93.8% in 2020, all higher than Gyeonggi Province.

Candidate for Gyeonggi Superintendent of Education Lim Tae-hee emphasized, "If the current employment and enrollment rates continue, the purpose of specialized high schools, which were created to promote employment for high school graduates, will inevitably be shaken," adding, "Practical measures must be prepared to improve the employment rate of vocational high schools by ensuring safety during on-site training and strengthening industry-academia cooperation programs."

As countermeasures, Candidate Lim proposed providing employment support funds (for clothing purchases, etc.) upon student employment, supporting certification exam fees, converting specialized high schools with low new student enrollment rates into general high schools or K-Culture high schools, and designating safety managers from companies and requiring responsibility pledges to ensure student safety during on-site training.