Ulsan Office of Education Achieves Lowest School Dropout Rate Nationwide for 10 Consecutive Years

Dropout Rate at 0.64%, Significantly Lower Than National Average of 1.05%

Various Customized Programs Inside and Outside School Show Results

Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Cheon Changsu) has recorded the lowest school dropout rate among all metropolitan and provincial offices of education nationwide for 10 consecutive years since 2014.

According to the recently announced '2024 Basic Education Statistics' by the Ministry of Education, the school dropout rate for elementary, middle, and high school students in Ulsan last year was 0.64%, and the dropout rate due to maladjustment was 0.37%, both at the lowest level nationwide. These figures are significantly lower than the national average dropout rate (1.05%) and the dropout rate due to maladjustment (0.58%).

The 'dropout rate due to maladjustment' refers to the proportion of students who drop out for reasons of school maladjustment, excluding those who leave due to illness, going abroad (postponement, exemption), or enrollment in alternative educational institutions not recognized for academic achievement.

The high school dropout rate in Ulsan also recorded the lowest nationwide at 1.41%, which is 0.62 percentage points lower than the national average of 2.03%.

The main reasons for school dropout among Ulsan students were, for elementary and middle schools: going abroad (231 students), other reasons (53 students), and unrecognized overseas study (37 students). For high schools, the reasons were: other (292 students), maladjustment (65 students), going abroad (30 students), and illness (25 students). Among these, 'other' (292 students) mainly included reasons such as passing the qualification exam, emigration, and employment.

The Ulsan Office of Education is working to prevent school dropouts by providing tailored support to at-risk students through close cooperation between individual schools and related organizations.

Within schools, alternative classrooms (15 schools), intensive support schools (7 specialized high schools), and the school dropout deliberation system (in all schools) are being operated. Depending on signs of potential dropout, each school's dropout prevention committee holds a 'crisis student support solution meeting' to review support measures and provide both in-school and out-of-school programs to prevent dropouts.

Outside of schools, the Office of Education’s Kkumirum Center and five Youth Counseling and Welfare Centers provide tailored education and counseling support for at-risk students.

To prevent dropouts by offering various alternative education programs, 19 commissioned educational institutions are operated, including alternative education centers focused on middle and high school, career and vocational paths, and family-type Wee Centers.

In particular, this year, the number of career and vocational-focused commissioned educational institutions has been increased from 11 last year to 14, so that students at risk of dropping out can develop their career competencies through education tailored to their individual characteristics and interests.

An official from the Ulsan Office of Education stated, "The lowest school dropout rate nationwide for 10 consecutive years is a valuable result created by the efforts of the entire Ulsan education community," and added, "We will continue to strengthen proactive prevention and customized support systems for students at risk of dropping out, and create an educational environment where every student can pursue their dreams."