Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education to Open and Begin Construction of 14 Schools by 2026

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education announced the 'Jeonnam Regional Mid-term School Establishment Plan' to alleviate overcrowded classes and improve the educational environment. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education plans to open and start construction of 14 schools by 2026.

On the 23rd, the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education held a non-face-to-face press briefing in the main conference room of the office building and announced the "Jeonnam Regional Mid-term School Establishment Plan" to resolve overcrowded classes and improve the educational environment due to various development projects.

According to the Office of Education, despite the rapid decline in the school-age population, schools have been newly established annually in line with urban growth to timely allocate students flowing in according to the urban development plans in the Jeonnam region to each level of school.

This mid-term school establishment plan is being promoted as an extension of that, and by 2026, it plans to newly establish and start construction of 3 single-kindergartens, 6 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 1 high school.

Most of the newly established schools are concentrated in city areas such as Muan, Gwangyang, Naju, and Suncheon, where there is a large influx of students due to land development projects and apartment complex developments.

In the case of the Muan Oryong district, plans are in place to establish (tentatively named) Sarang Kindergarten, Hope Elementary School, Sarang Elementary School, and Hope Middle School in 2025. If the elementary and middle schools are approved at the central investment review in April and July this year, design work will begin in the second half of the year.

(Tentatively named) Oryong High School aims to open in 2026; however, Jeonnam region operates as a single school district and is facing a reality where approval from the Ministry of Education’s central investment review is difficult due to the sharp decline in student numbers.

Nevertheless, the Office of Education plans to request the Ministry of Education’s central investment review in October, when the sale announcement of over 3,700 apartment units is expected, to improve commuting inconvenience and educational conditions.

Also, in the Gwangyang Hwanggeum district, where land readjustment projects have begun, one elementary school and one middle school will be newly established in 2023. In 2024, one kindergarten, one elementary school, and one middle school will be started in Naju Innovation City, and one kindergarten, two elementary schools, and one middle school will be started in Suncheon Seonwol district. This schedule may be adjusted depending on the progress of the land development projects.

For school establishment, at least 4,000 apartment units must be announced for sale around the same time for elementary schools, and 6,000 or more units for middle and high schools, with no surplus student placement capacity in nearby schools or school districts.

Based on these conditions, school establishment is finally confirmed only after the Office of Education’s own investment review and the Ministry of Education’s central investment review, which holds the actual authority for school establishment.

Superintendent Jang Seok-woong stated, “We will do our best to ensure the successful establishment of schools under promotion to provide a stable educational environment for students along with the creation of residential environments through land development projects by preparing meticulously so that the central investment review can pass smoothly.”

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