Seventeen New and Expanded Special Classes Planned for Kindergartens, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in Gwangju

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education will newly establish or expand 17 special education classes in 16 schools across the region to broaden educational options for students with disabilities.

According to the city’s office of education on the 13th, this year the number of special education classes will be increased to 4 classes in 3 kindergartens, 4 classes in 4 elementary schools, 4 classes in 4 middle schools, and 5 classes in 5 high schools to improve the environment for special education.

Three new special education classes will also be established in three private schools, which have previously lacked such classes.

With the installation of special education classes at Kumho Jungang Middle School, Korea High School, and Gwangdeok High School, the number of private schools with special education classes will increase from 7 schools with 10 classes to 10 schools with 13 classes.

This expansion of special education classes was prompted by the steady increase in the number of students eligible for special education.

In February last year, the city’s office of education enacted the ‘Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education Ordinance on the Establishment and Support of Special Education Classes’ and conducted a preliminary survey of the preferred schools for students eligible for special education entering kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools in the 2025 academic year.

In addition, the special education team, school establishment team, and private school policy team promoted the establishment and expansion of special education classes through school visits and other activities.

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education building.

Superintendent Lee Jeongseon said, “I am grateful that three private schools have participated in establishing special education classes for students in need,” and added, “We will actively promote the expansion of special education classes and the establishment of new special schools to improve the environment for special education.”

Meanwhile, last year the city’s office of education operated 29 special education classes in 25 kindergartens, 180 classes in 138 elementary schools, 74 classes in 59 middle schools, and 45 classes in 23 high schools.

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