Starting Elementary School at Age 7... Ministry of Education to Lower School Entry Age and Integrate Kindergarten and Preschool Programs

Ministry of Education Work Report: Lowering School Entry Age by One Year Starting 2025
Sequential Enrollment by Birth Month at 25% Each... Final Plan to Be Derived Through National Education Council
Full-Scale Promotion of Kindergarten and Childcare Integration... Unification of Education-Centered Kindergartens and Childcare Centers
Maintaining Autonomous Private High Schools and Abolishing Foreign Language High Schools in 'High School Education System Reform' by Year-End

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education is pushing forward a plan to lower the elementary school entrance age by one year starting in 2025. Children born in 2018 will enter the first grade of elementary school at age 7. The ministry will also promote the integration of kindergarten and daycare stages, called 'Yubotonghap,' and decide to maintain autonomous private high schools (Jasago).

On the 29th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Park Soon-ae reported these new government policies to President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Yongsan Presidential Office. The main points include lowering the school entrance age, Yubotonghap integration, maintaining Jasago, and reforming the high school system.

Children born in 2019 will start school at age 7

The Ministry of Education is promoting a school system reform to advance the elementary school entrance age by one year. From 2025, 7-year-old children will be able to enter elementary school. The current 6-3-3 system for elementary, middle, and high school will be maintained, with only the entrance timing adjusted. President Yoon had pledged 'universal free childcare for all 5-year-olds,' which has evolved into this school system reform lowering the elementary entrance age. The ministry believes that maintaining the current 12-year system but advancing the entrance age is a way to reduce social confusion rather than shortening the school system.

In 2025, children born between January 2018 and April 2019 will enter school; in 2026, those born between April 2019 and June 2020; in 2027, those born between July 2020 and September 2021; and in 2028, those born between October 2021 and December 2022 will enter school.

The Ministry of Education plans to prepare a draft for the school system reform by the end of 2022 and consider conducting pilot projects starting in 2024 in regions that wish to participate. Prior to this, public forums, hearings, expert consultations, and analyses of educational infrastructure such as teachers and facilities will be conducted, followed by social discussions with the soon-to-be-established National Education Commission to finalize the plan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Park Soon-ae said, "Lowering the school entrance age is essential for the state to take early responsibility for and resolve educational disparities caused by regional or family circumstances. We will first advance the period of compulsory education for which the state is responsible by one year, and once the National Education Commission is established, a mid- to long-term roadmap will be created." She added, "Due to issues such as space and teachers, the reform will not be implemented all at once but expanded by 25% over four years. Considering the decreasing number of students and available space, increasing by 25% is judged to be feasible within current facilities."

The lowering of the school entrance age was made considering improvements in teaching and learning methods and children's maturity. The Ministry of Education explained that advancing the entrance age by one year, rather than extending the school system, was the best option. If this plan is established, students will be able to enter university from age 17.

Minister Park said, "Initially, the goal was to advance by two years, but considering social issues, it was adjusted to one year. Globally, most countries start compulsory education from ages 4 to 5. Teaching methods and education delivery systems have improved, and children's maturity has accelerated compared to the past." She added, "We also considered maintaining the existing entrance age and adding one year, but advancing by one year rather than extending the 12-year system was seen as a way to reduce confusion."

Yubotonghap Promotion Team to be Formed... Childcare Duties Transferred to Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education will promote Yubotonghap to reduce educational and care disparities between kindergartens and daycare centers. To unify the kindergarten and daycare system centered on education, a Yubotonghap Promotion Team will be formed in August. The ministry plans to transfer existing childcare funding to the Ministry of Education and use grants to cover additional costs.

Currently, kindergartens are managed by the Ministry of Education, while daycare centers are managed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. There is a significant difference in teacher qualifications and treatment between kindergartens and daycare centers. For example, daycare teachers can work by completing 'credit acquisition' at junior colleges or lifelong education institutions, whereas kindergarten teachers must graduate from a 3- or 4-year early childhood education program to qualify. Issues such as teacher treatment and certification integration must also be resolved. The Ministry of Education plans to improve teachers and curricula and consider strengthening support for education for children aged 0 to 2.

Minister Park said, "Currently, childcare funding is about 10 trillion won, and early childhood education funding is about 5 trillion won. Managing these funds in an integrated manner could improve efficiency." She added, "Although discussions with the Ministry of Health and Welfare are necessary, there is consensus that Yubotonghap is needed regardless of which agency takes charge. We aim to bring these duties under the Ministry of Education with the purpose of resolving social disparities through education."

Maintain Jasago, Abolish Foreign Language High Schools... High School System Reform to be Finalized by Year-End

The high school system will be reformed by maintaining autonomous private high schools (Jasago) but converting foreign language high schools into general high schools. The existing Jasago system will be preserved, but underperforming Jasago will be restructured. Detailed plans for high school system reform including these points will be prepared by the end of the year and finalized in the first half of next year. Regarding the high school credit system to be implemented in 2025, the ministry plans to operate specialized subject schools and establish online schools to share lectures and enhance educational capacity.

Before the implementation of the '2022 Revised Curriculum' in 2025 and the 'College Entrance System Reform' starting in 2028, public opinion will also be gathered. From September, a demand survey on college entrance policy awareness and future reform directions will be conducted targeting 20,000 students and parents. A draft for the college entrance system reform will be prepared in the first half of 2023 and finalized in February 2024.

Minister Park said, "We are considering abolishing foreign language high schools or converting them into general high schools that autonomously operate special subjects by school. We will implement this after discussions with metropolitan and provincial education offices and parents, and conduct large-scale demand surveys on curriculum and college entrance systems targeting parents and students. If the current system is preferred, we will reflect that in policy as well."

Universities facing financial difficulties will also be managed more systematically. The ministry will allow the use of reserves and special exceptions for property disposal for structural improvement and support flexible school mergers and closures. A special law for private university structural improvement will be enacted, and a comprehensive higher education master plan will be prepared by the end of the year. Universities that are beyond recovery will be allowed to convert into regional public institutions (public interest and social welfare corporations).

Minister Park said, "Twelve junior colleges and 18 four-year universities fall into the category of marginal universities. If regulations related to liquidation are eased and conversion to corporations is allowed, opening the way for use as welfare facilities or by local communities, those establishing educational institutions will be able to contribute to society." She added, "For marginal universities that can normalize issues such as unpaid faculty salaries, support measures can also be considered."

Additionally, the Ministry of Education plans to nurture one million digital talents over five years, cultivating 70,000 advanced, 720,000 intermediate, and 210,000 beginner-level talents. Graduate education and research groups for digital field master's and doctoral leading personnel will be expanded, along with specialized graduate schools. Eight digital innovation shared universities and 135 industry-academia-research cooperation leading universities will be designated. Information classes in elementary and secondary schools will be doubled, and mandatory coding education will be promoted. Through a talent development strategy meeting chaired by the president, industry, educational institutions, and government will jointly discuss workforce supply and demand and training strategies.

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