The Office of Education Announces Seoul Special Education Development Plan... One New Special School to Be Established
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The number of students requiring special education, such as those with intellectual and physical disabilities, in the Seoul area has increased by 4.9% over four years. Accordingly, the number of special schools and special classes in Seoul will increase by one school and 259 classes respectively by 2027.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 8th the "6th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Special Education in Seoul," outlining the vision for special education in Seoul from 2023 to 2027.
Although the school-age population in Seoul has been decreasing recently, the number of students requiring special education has been increasing annually due to changing perceptions of disabilities and special education. The number of students requiring special education increased by 625 (4.9%) from 12,741 in 2018 to 13,366 in 2022.
Among disability types, intellectual disabilities account for the largest portion at 41.9%, followed by autism spectrum disorder (22.8%), physical disabilities (11.8%), and developmental delays (11.3%).
In particular, the number of students with autism spectrum disorder increased by 46.8%, from 2,073 in 2018 to 3,044 in 2022. The number of students with visual and hearing impairments decreased.
A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official explained, "The increase in the proportion of students requiring special education seems to be due to changes in parents' perceptions of special education. Since special education-related services have expanded compared to before, parents' willingness to entrust their children to special education has also grown."
There are a total of 32 special schools in the Seoul area, of which 19 schools (59.4%) are for intellectual and emotional disabilities.
Although students with developmental disabilities account for 10,312 (77.2%) of all students requiring special education, there are concerns about the insufficient number of schools to accommodate them.
Establishing special schools is not easy because it requires persuading and gaining cooperation from local residents.
Currently, there are no special schools in eight Seoul districts: Jungnang-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Seongdong-gu, Jung-gu, Yongsan-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Yangcheon-gu, and Geumcheon-gu.
Among these, Dongjin School is scheduled to open in Jungnang-gu in September 2025, and land is being secured for establishment in Seongdong-gu. In addition, three new special schools, including one converted public school, are being planned.
The number of special classes was 1,528 in 2022, a 16.5% increase compared to 2018, but further expansion is still needed.
The Office of Education announced that it will add or expand 259 special classes in kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools (including public and private) over five years until 2027.
It also decided to provide financial support to make it easier to add or expand special classes at schools where students requiring special education wish to be placed.
Furthermore, to ensure that students requiring special education can smoothly attend classes not only in special classes but also in regular classes, the deployment of special education teachers will be further expanded. A collaborative teaching culture will be fostered where special education teachers and general teachers work together so that these students can actively participate in all aspects of school life.
For kindergartens, placement standards will be improved, such as assigning an additional special education teacher to overcrowded classes.
Additionally, to strengthen the special education support system operated by each support office, the Seoul Special Education Support Center will be established, and future classrooms utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) will be operated.
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