Seongju Yongam and Uiseong Danmil Elementary Schools to Close... Three Kindergartens and Two Branch Schools Also Shutting Down

50,000 Fewer Students in North Gyeongsang Over 10 Years
Provincial Office of Education Accelerates 'Optimal School Size' Policy Amid Declining Enrollment

The North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jong-sik) announced on the 29th that it is actively pursuing the 'Optimal School Size Development Policy' in response to the declining student population and changing educational environment, accelerating efforts to guarantee students' right to learn and to bridge educational gaps.

The number of elementary, middle, and high school students in North Gyeongsang Province decreased from 287,602 in 2016 to 238,146 in 2025, a drop of about 50,000 students (17.1%) over ten years. In particular, the number of elementary school students decreased by about 20,000 during the same period, resulting in a rapid trend toward smaller schools. As a result, the number of combined classes has increased, and the number of schools has decreased from 988 to 933, a reduction of 55 schools, reflecting widespread changes in educational conditions.

Gyeongbuk Office of Education

The North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education explained that the increase in small schools has led to limitations in curriculum operation, such as the need to run combined classes, difficulties in discussion- and experience-based lessons, and a lack of interaction among students, which in turn infringes upon students' right to learn.

Additionally, the situation is worsening due to increased burdens on teachers caused by combined classes, issues with subject mismatches (teachers teaching outside their subject areas), and reduced investment in educational equipment and facilities, resulting in declining educational quality and administrative inefficiency.

Small schools in rural, mountain, and fishing villages serve as symbolic spaces for local communities, so there is resistance to school consolidation and closure. However, the North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education emphasized that in order to enhance student-centered educational effectiveness, it is essential to redefine the fundamental functions of schools and transition to an optimal school size system.

The North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education is shifting away from simple physical consolidation to a paradigm focused on guaranteeing students' right to learn and expanding educational opportunities. To this end, it actively collects opinions from parents and local communities during the consolidation process and provides tangible benefits such as transportation and educational cost support that students and parents can directly experience.

Furthermore, for schools where the rapid decline in student numbers has made educational environment improvements urgent, the implementation date for consolidation, previously limited to March 1, has been expanded to September 1, allowing for more flexible responses tailored to each school's circumstances.

Accordingly, as of September 1, Mungyeong Sanbuk Elementary School Changgu Branch Kindergarten, Uiseong Danmil Elementary School Kindergarten, Seongju Yongam Elementary School Kindergarten, Andong Wolgok Elementary School Samgye Branch, Mungyeong Sanbuk Elementary School Changgu Branch, Uiseong Danmil Elementary School, and Seongju Yongam Elementary School are scheduled to be closed.

Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of North Gyeongsang Province Office of Education, stated, "Establishing an optimal school size system is essential to preserving the essence of education," and added, "We will work together with the local community to create rational solutions for the future of our children."

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