32 Small Schools in Gyeongbuk Have Zero New Students... Kim Hong-gu, Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly Member, Proposes 'Small School Support Ordinance'

Gyeongbuk Provincial Council member Kim Hong-gu (People Power Party, Sangju) announced on the 29th that he has taken the lead in proposing the 'Gyeongbuk Office of Education Small School Support Ordinance.'

In the Gyeongbuk region, due to the decline in the school-age population and the accelerated outflow of population from eup and myeon areas, there are 342 small schools with 60 or fewer students as of 2023, and 32 schools have zero new students enrolled.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Member Kim Hong-gu.

In 2023, the average proportion of small schools in Gyeongbuk's elementary, middle, and high schools was 36.4%, with Cheongsong-gun having the highest at 72.7%, followed by Seongju-gun at 68%, Bonghwa-gun at 65.4%, and Goryeong-gun at 64.7%. A total of 15 cities and counties exceeded the average proportion.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Council member Kim Hong-gu stated, “The smaller the school, the faster the student outflow accelerates, raising concerns about the disintegration of local communities. The educational environment and conditions of small schools are becoming increasingly poor, making it urgent to prepare support measures.” He added, “I proposed this ordinance to improve outdated facilities by leveraging regional characteristics and the advantages of small schools, promote regional development through infrastructure establishment in local communities, and contribute to improving educational conditions and enhancing educational welfare in small schools.”

Kim also said, “I hope that by enacting an ordinance that serves as the basis for supporting small schools in the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, support projects linked to educational welfare and community cooperation for small schools will be further activated.”

This ordinance is expected to be promulgated and implemented after going through the resolution process at the 2nd plenary session of the 344th extraordinary meeting on February 2.