Gyeongbuk Office of Education to Establish Public Special School in Chilgok Area... Improving Educational Conditions for Special Education Students in Southwestern Gyeongbuk Region

Gyeongbuk Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gui-yeol] The Gyeongbuk Office of Education received final approval from the Ministry of Education on the 20th of last month for the establishment of the (tentative name) Chilgok Special School, and will actively proceed with the school’s establishment starting this year.

The (tentative name) Chilgok Special School is scheduled to open in March 2027 and will be established on a 18,175㎡ site at 614 Ponam-ri, Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun. It will consist of a total of 27 classes for 150 students: 1 kindergarten class, 12 elementary school classes, 6 middle school classes, 6 high school classes, and 2 vocational classes.

There are currently eight special schools in Gyeongbuk Province (3 public and 5 private), but Gumi Hyedang School, the only special school in the southwestern region, lacks the capacity to accommodate the increasing number of students due to facility limitations. Despite the decline in the school-age population, the number of students requiring special education has steadily increased, highlighting the ongoing need to establish a special school in the southwestern region.

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education has shown strong determination to establish a special school and faced difficulties in searching for a site over several years. However, with the active cooperation of residents in Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun, a public special school representing the southwestern region will be established in a location with excellent accessibility and site conditions.

Once the (tentative name) Chilgok Special School is established, it is expected to alleviate the difficulties of long-distance commuting for the increasing number of special needs students in the southwestern region of Gyeongbuk and bring good news to parents who wish for their children to attend a special school to receive specialized special education.

Superintendent Lim Jong-sik said, “The establishment of the Chilgok Special School is significant not only in resolving long-distance commuting but also in providing students with disabilities valuable opportunities for vocational independence before entering society through vocational education in the kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school curricula as well as the vocational course. Despite difficult circumstances, the establishment of the (tentative name) Chilgok Special School holds great meaning,” and added, “We will do our best to prepare so that the (tentative name) Chilgok Special School can open normally in March 2027.”