Four-year Teacher Training Institutions to Reduce Quota by 3,200 Starting Next Year

Teacher Training Programs and Graduate Schools of Education Have Over 60% C Grade or Lower
98% of Education Colleges Are A or B Grade, C Grade Only at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
E Grade in General University Teacher Training Programs at Pukyong National University, Changwon National University, and Hansung University

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education has decided to reduce the number of teacher candidates by about 3,200 following an evaluation of the capabilities of four-year teacher colleges, education departments and teacher training programs at general universities, and graduate schools of education.

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Education announced the results of the '2020 Teacher Training Institutions Capability Diagnosis.' This comprehensive evaluation covered 154 four-year universities, excluding teacher colleges and national universities of education, from 2018 to 2021 as part of the 5th cycle 2nd and 3rd year assessments, evaluating educational conditions, curricula, and outcomes.

As a result of the capability evaluation, most teacher colleges and education departments at general universities received A or B grades, but more than half of the teacher training programs at general universities and graduate schools of education received C grades or lower. B grades maintain the current status, while C grades face a 30% reduction in enrollment quotas, D grades a 50% reduction, and E grades result in abolition.

The scale of enrollment reduction amounts to about 3,200, which is 12% of the total enrollment quota (about 26,000). This includes about 130 from teacher colleges and general university education departments, about 1,800 from teacher training programs, and about 1,200 from graduate schools of education (both initial training and retraining programs). For teacher training programs, the reduction will be applied starting in 2023 when the 2022 academic year freshmen enter the program.

The graduate school of education's initial training program refers to the teacher training process that issues teaching certificates to the general public. Graduate schools of education provide retraining programs for in-service teachers and will not reduce or abolish enrollment quotas but will restrict the establishment of new majors.

Among teacher colleges, which showed the best evaluation results, 98% of the 45 schools received A or B grades. By grade: ▲11 schools (25%) received A grade ▲33 schools (73%) received B grade ▲1 school (2%) received C grade, with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies receiving the C grade. Among 105 general university education departments, ▲28 schools (27%) received A grade ▲65 schools (62%) received B grade ▲11 schools (10%) received C grade ▲1 school (1%) received D grade. The D grade was given to the Early Childhood Education Department at Kangwon National University (Samcheok campus).

In the teacher training programs at general universities, which had the largest scale of enrollment reduction, there were even 3 schools (2%) that received E grades. Pukyong National University, Changwon National University, and Hansung University received E grades and will have their teacher training functions abolished. More than half, 64 schools (51%), received C grades, followed by 31 schools (25%) with D grades, 27 schools (21%) with B grades, and only 1 school (1%) received an A grade.

Graduate schools of education also had one school each receiving E grades in both initial training and retraining programs, leading to abolition. Pukyong National University received an E grade in the initial training program, and Jeju International University received an E grade in the retraining program. Among 68 graduate schools of education offering initial training programs, 33 schools (49%) received C grades, 28% received B grades, 12 schools (18%) received D grades, and 3 schools (4%) received A grades. Among 101 schools offering retraining programs, 49 schools (49%) received C grades, 30 schools (30%) received D grades, 17 schools (17%) received B grades, and 4 schools (4%) received A grades.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education increased the weight of the curriculum to 50% in this diagnosis and expanded indicators such as curriculum operation plans and achievements, on-site teaching operation, efforts to enhance student teaching capabilities, and performance in student guidance and teaching practicum systems.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "In a changing educational environment due to the 4th Industrial Revolution, demographic changes, and COVID-19, we plan to actively support the training of excellent prospective teachers who will lead future education and enable teacher training institutions to autonomously improve themselves."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.