The Era of 20 Students per Class Arrives... Ulsan Office of Education Significantly Reduces Overcrowded Classes in Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

Goal of Fewer Than 20 Students per Class in 1st Grade Elementary School

The number of overcrowded classes with 28 or more students per class in elementary, middle, and high schools in the Ulsan area has significantly decreased.

According to the status of overcrowded classes by city and province (2021-2022) included in the recently published "2023 National Assembly Inspection Issue Analysis" report by the National Assembly Legislative Research Office, the number of overcrowded classes in Ulsan decreased by 207 classes from 866 in 2021 to 659 in 2022, a 23.9% reduction compared to 2021.

In a self-conducted survey this year, among a total of 5,383 classes in elementary, middle, and high schools in the Ulsan area, there were 543 overcrowded classes: 26 in elementary schools, 302 in middle schools, and 215 in high schools, representing a 37.2% decrease compared to 2021.

The annual overcrowding rate also continues to decline, from 15.5% in 2021 to 11.5% in 2022, and 10% in 2023.

The Ulsan Office of Education explained that these results appear to be the outcome of proactive efforts to resolve overcrowded classes through classroom conversions, increasing the number of classes, installing modular classrooms, and dispersing new students to ensure students' right to learn.

Ulsan Office of Education.

The National Assembly Legislative Research Office recommended that since the causes of overcrowded classes vary greatly by region, school level, and individual schools, and because it is a complex issue linked to local residents' complaints and interests, the Ministry of Education and city/provincial offices of education need to prepare comprehensive measures considering these factors.

Resolving overcrowded classes is a major pledge of Superintendent Cheon Chang-su, who is promoting the elimination of overcrowded classes with 28 or more students per class in elementary, middle, and high schools by 2025 through phased new school establishments, relocations, expansions, student dispersal, and classroom expansions.

New establishments, relocations, and expansions of schools such as Hyomun Elementary School (newly established) and Yaksu Elementary School (newly established replacement relocation) in Buk-gu, Seobu Elementary School (expansion) in Dong-gu, and Gangdong Middle School (expansion) in Buk-gu are scheduled to be completed by 2025. The (tentatively named) Seosa Elementary School in the Daun 2 public housing district in Beomseo-eup, Ulju-gun is also scheduled to be newly established in 2026.

The city education office plans to achieve 100% of first-grade elementary school classes with 20 or fewer students per class by 2025, alongside resolving overcrowded classes. Currently, 97 out of 121 elementary schools (80.2%) have completed class formations with 20 or fewer students per class.

An official from the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education stated, "Along with resolving overcrowded classes, we will improve students' educational conditions and environments through projects such as the Green Smart Future School project, which transforms school buildings older than 40 years into future-oriented learning spaces, to realize customized education."

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