Seoul Daewon and Yeonghun International Middle Schools to Convert to Regular Middle Schools Starting Next Year

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Announces Evaluation Results of Specialized Middle Schools Operation
Two International Middle Schools Fail to Meet Benchmark Scores

Current Students Retain Specialized Middle School Status
Kyochong Criticizes "Education Environment Changes Following Ideology and Politics"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Daewon and Yeonghun two international middle schools will be converted into general middle schools starting next year. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 10th the results of the evaluation of specialized middle school operation performance and stated that it will proceed with the cancellation of the designation of Daewon and Yeonghun International Middle Schools as specialized middle schools. Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, explained at a press conference that "this operation performance evaluation is not part of a policy to abolish international middle schools as some have feared, but a fair and objective evaluation of the operation performance over the past five years."

The evaluation of specialized middle school operation performance is conducted every five years according to the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This year's evaluation targets are three schools: Daewon International Middle School, Yeonghun International Middle School, and Seoul Sports Middle School. Seoul Sports Middle School will maintain its status as a specialized middle school.

In this evaluation, Daewon and Yeonghun International Middle Schools did not meet the standard score. The Office of Education explained that the biggest deduction factor was that the two schools received audit sanctions for violating academic-related laws and guidelines. It also cited the insufficient efforts to nurture international professionals, which is the founding purpose, and to reduce educational disparities as major reasons. The standard score in this evaluation was raised from 60 points to 70 points. The deduction for audit issues was also increased from 5 points to 10 points.

Students currently enrolled at Daewon and Yeonghun International Middle Schools will maintain their status as specialized middle school students until graduation. The Office of Education plans to apply for consent to cancel the designation to the Ministry of Education after a hearing procedure. During this process, the schools concerned may undergo a defense procedure. Attention is focused on whether the evaluation results in Seoul will affect the review results of international middle schools in Gyeonggi and Busan, which will be announced later this month. Some are opposing the cancellation of specialized school designations, arguing that it causes confusion in the educational field. A representative of the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations said, "The creation and abolition are repeated according to ideology or politics. Schools have been operated trusting the government's directives, but if they are suddenly abolished one day, who can trust it?" Yeonghun International Middle School refused to comment, saying "We have nothing to say," and the person in charge at Daewon International Middle School could not be reached by phone.

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