No 'Overcrowding' in the COVID Reality... Busan Office of Education to Invest 104.3 Billion KRW This Year to Reduce Classes Exceeding 28 Students

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education will focus on resolving overcrowded classes in elementary, middle, and high schools by 2026.

Currently, in the Busan area, overcrowded classes exceeding the Ministry of Education's standard of 28 students per class are concentrated in some areas such as Myeongji and Jeonggwan New Towns, Dongnae, and Haeundae, totaling 1,662 classes across 115 schools.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education expects that overcrowding can be resolved naturally by student number reduction through redistribution to nearby schools for 425 classes in 35 of the 115 schools.

For the remaining 1,237 classes in 80 schools, a comprehensive plan will be prepared and implemented in phases to resolve overcrowding.

According to the plan, by 2026, reflecting the demand for additional classes at the necessary times by region, overcrowded classes in 71 schools with 1,062 classes will be resolved through optimized school-specific measures such as classroom reallocation, teacher building expansion, modular classroom installation, and school establishment.

For 9 schools with 175 classes located in Myeongji, Jeonggwan, and some urban redevelopment and reconstruction areas, overcrowding will be resolved through new school establishment and adjustment of school districts.

This year, with a budget of 104.3 billion KRW, active efforts will be made to resolve overcrowded classes in 30 elementary, middle, and high schools with 167 classes.

The specific resolution measures for 2022 include classroom reallocation in 18 schools with 35 rooms, teacher building expansion in 1 school with 12 rooms, modular classroom installation in 9 schools with 59 rooms, and school establishment in 2 schools with 61 rooms.

The schools to be established are Onsaem Elementary School in Dongnae District and Ocean Middle School in Gangseo District, both opening in March.

In 2023, Myeongji 5 Elementary School will be established, and by 2026, in connection with land development and apartment complex development, the establishment of 7 schools in Gangseo District, Gijang County, and Haeundae area will be promoted through the Ministry of Education's central investment review.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to actively respond to the COVID-19 situation by resolving overcrowded classes and nurture creative and convergent talents needed in the 4th Industrial Revolution era through future education.

Superintendent Kim Seok-jun said, “We will promote specific overcrowding resolution measures for individual schools according to student number fluctuation trends and apartment development plans, ensuring that all students can receive education in a comfortable environment.”

The overcrowded class rate in elementary, middle, and high schools in Busan was 14.4% as of 2021, which is lower than the national overcrowded class rate of 23.2%.

Although Busan shows a low overcrowded class rate and a sharp decline in school-age population, overcrowded schools are increasing due to the continued concentration of students in specific areas such as Gangseo and Gijang.

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