"You Have to Become a Teacher If You Graduate": Students at Prestigious Education Universities Choosing to Drop Out

Dropout Rate at Education Universities Hits All-Time High
Changing Values Among Young People and Worsening Teaching Environment Cited as Main Causes
Limited Career Options... "Leaving School Early to Pursue Other Paths"

Once considered prestigious institutions with top-tier entrance exam results, education universities are rapidly losing popularity. Recently, the dropout rate among enrolled students has reached an all-time high for two consecutive years.

According to the Korea Educational Development Institute on October 12, the dropout rate among students at education universities nationwide was recorded at 4.2% last year. This means that more than four out of every 100 students at these universities dropped out before completing their studies. The same figure was recorded in 2023, marking the highest level for two consecutive years.

The dropout rate among education university students remained in the 0% range until 2018, but began to rise to 1.5% in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020. The upward trend continued, reaching 2.4% in 2021, 3.2% in 2022, and recently surpassing the 4% mark. Considering that the dropout rate among students at general universities was 5.3% in 2023 and 5.4% in 2024, education universities are following a similar trend.

Seoul National University of Education campus view. Seoul National University of Education

This trend is no exception at major education universities. According to data from University Information Disclosure, Seoul National University of Education recorded 103 dropouts last year, while Gyeongin National University of Education had 105 dropouts.

The main reasons cited are changes in the values of the younger generation and the worsening environment for teaching professionals. The high proportion of emotional labor, such as handling complaints from parents, and considerations regarding salary and working conditions, have reduced the incentive for high-achieving students to choose education universities.

A survey conducted last year by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations also found that only 19.7% of respondents said they would choose the teaching profession again if given the chance, the lowest figure on record.

Jung Hyeyoung, spokesperson for the Seoul Teachers’ Union, analyzed, "For most education university students, there are realistically few employment options outside of schools. With new teacher recruitment decreasing and the teaching environment deteriorating, more students are choosing to drop out early."

The competitiveness of education university entrance exams has been steadily declining. In the early 2010s, their competitiveness was on par with major universities in Seoul, but recently, some regional education universities have failed to fill their quotas, reflecting a significant drop in popularity. Experts predict that unless the structural issues within the teaching profession are addressed, the trend of students leaving education universities will intensify further.