Advanced Medical Education Reform Plan to be Released in September... "No Decline in Education Quality Due to Enrollment Increase"

The government has decided to present an 'Advanced Medical School Education Plan' by September in line with the increase in medical school quotas. The government explained that this plan aims to prevent the deterioration of medical education conditions due to the rapid increase in quotas and could also serve as an incentive for medical students who are refusing classes in protest of the quota increase to return.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 9th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo held a press conference on medical reform at the Government Seoul Office and stated, "We are well aware of the public's concerns about whether the increased number of medical students can be properly educated," adding, "The quality of education will never decline just because the medical school quotas have increased."

Prime Minister Han said, "By August this year, we will preliminarily allocate faculty quotas for each university and complete the hiring of new professors in accordance with next year's academic calendar," outlining plans to steadily proceed with the previously announced recruitment of 1,000 full-time faculty members at national universities.

He continued, "Construction work for expansions, renovations, and new buildings (lecture spaces) will be expedited by exempting them from preliminary feasibility studies," and explained, "We will prepare comprehensive support measures, including the development of region-specific training programs, so that medical students selected through regional talent recruitment can remain in their local areas."

Furthermore, Prime Minister Han stated, "To strengthen the competitiveness of medical education, we will present the 'Advanced Medical School Education Plan' and finalize it in September after sufficient consultation."

The government expects that strengthening the quality of medical education will also provide a justification for students who have submitted collective leave notices and are refusing classes to return.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, who attended the briefing, said, "The content announced today contains sufficient justification for students to return," and added, "We will continue efforts to faithfully convey and persuade the school sites regarding this content."

Minister Lee made it clear that since neither collective failure nor collective leave is permissible, they will work closely with universities to make every effort to facilitate the students' return.