"I Don't Want to Be a Teacher"…Dropouts from Metropolitan Area Teacher Colleges Increased Sixfold

Analysis of Nationwide Education University and Elementary Education Departments by Jongno Academy
Seoul National University of Education Sees 83 Dropouts, a 7.5-Fold Increase
Non-Capital Regions Also Have 341 Dropouts... 2.7-Fold Increase

The number of dropouts from education universities and elementary education departments at general universities in the Seoul metropolitan area has increased sixfold over the past five years. Due to a decline in the school-age population leading to reduced hiring of new teachers, along with recent controversies over teacher authority violations, the popularity of education universities is steadily decreasing.

On the 1st, Jongno Academy analyzed the number of mid-term dropouts from a total of 13 institutions nationwide, including 10 education universities and 3 elementary education departments, as disclosed on the University Alimi platform. The analysis showed that the number of students who dropped out from elementary teacher training institutions in the metropolitan area increased sixfold from 26 in 2018 to 155 in 2022. The metropolitan area elementary teacher training institutions include Seoul National University of Education, Gyeongin National University of Education, and Ewha Womans University’s Elementary Education Department. Mid-term dropout refers to cases where students leave university due to withdrawal, non-registration, or failure to re-enroll.

Seoul National University of Education
Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, the number of mid-term dropouts at Seoul National University of Education surged 7.5 times from 11 in 2018 to 83 in 2022, showing the highest dropout rate in the metropolitan area. During the same period, Gyeongin National University of Education’s dropouts increased 4.7 times from 15 to 71, and Ewha Womans University had no dropouts previously but saw 1 student leave last year.

Mid-term dropouts at education universities outside the metropolitan area also rose 2.7 times from 127 in 2018 to 341 in 2022. Outside the metropolitan area, there are eight education universities as well as Korea National University of Education and Jeju National University’s Elementary Education Department. Among these, Cheongju National University of Education’s dropouts increased from 14 in 2018 to 44 in 2022, Chuncheon National University of Education from 25 to 52, and Jeonju National University of Education from 2 to 43.

Although the dropout trend appears more pronounced among students at metropolitan education universities who generally have higher entrance scores, nationwide figures also show an increase from 153 in 2018 to 496 in 2022, a 3.2-fold rise over five years.

The avoidance of education universities is expected to worsen further. According to Jongno Academy, the average competition rate for regular admissions to education universities and elementary education departments nationwide this year was 2 to 1, the lowest in the past five years.

In particular, except for Korea National University of Education and Ewha Womans University, all other institutions had competition rates below 3 to 1, which is effectively considered under-enrollment.

Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy, said, "Mid-term dropouts at education universities are more severe in the metropolitan area than in provincial regions. Given the increasing dropout trends at Seoul National University of Education and Gyeongin National University of Education, it is highly likely that avoidance of education universities in Seoul and the metropolitan area will be significantly evident in the 2024 university admissions."

Earlier last month, a survey revealed that the admission cutoff scores for education universities and elementary education departments nationwide in the 2023 university admissions were the lowest in the past four years.

Meanwhile, in April, the Ministry of Education announced a mid- to long-term teacher supply plan, stating that new elementary teacher recruitment will be reduced by up to 27% by 2027. However, the admission quotas for education universities in the 2024 academic year will be maintained at the previous year’s level.

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