Ruling Party and Government "Agree on Teacher Quota Reduction... Teacher Supply Plan to be Announced This Month"

by Kim Youngwon

Published 17 Apr.2023 15:14(KST)

The government and ruling party have decided to present a teacher supply and demand plan aimed at reducing the number of teachers, considering the declining school-age population. They also plan to significantly expand university autonomy in the operation of academic systems.

On the morning of the 17th, the People Power Party gathered opinions like this during a party-government consultation meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, after receiving a report from the Ministry of Education on the mid-to-long-term (2024?2027) teacher supply and demand plan. Attendees included Lee Tae-gyu, the ruling party's secretary of the National Assembly Education Committee, and Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education.

In a briefing on the results of the party-government consultation, Representative Lee stated, "Due to the decrease in the school-age population, the number of teachers should be adjusted to an appropriate scale," adding, "The party and government agreed that new teacher recruitment should be gradually adjusted, and the quotas of teacher training institutions should also be adjusted accordingly."

Lee Taegyu, the Education Committee Secretary of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party-government consultation meeting on educational issues held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 17th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Ministry of Education said it will continue discussions on teacher reduction. Vice Minister of Education Jang Sang-yoon explained, "If we align with the physical decline in the school-age population, we should follow a reduction trend, but there is a need for new educational demands, and we must carry out customized education for all, such as improving the quality of education through the digital transformation," adding, "It is difficult to present a specific direction or detailed reduction plan at this time. Please understand that we intend to continuously consider and review this."

Earlier, in his opening remarks at the party-government consultation, Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "Our education is facing rapid changes in the future educational environment, such as digital transformation and a decline in the school-age population," and added, "Teacher supply and demand policies need to shift from a quantitative approach focused on the number of students per teacher to more precisely reflecting policy demands." He further stated, "The mid-to-long-term teacher supply and demand plan for 2024?2027 will adjust the number of teachers considering the sharp decline in the school-age population and adjust the scale of new recruitment annually to establish a solid foundation for educational reform without disruption."

The party and government also agreed to promote enhancing university autonomy through regulatory reform. Representative Lee said, "In the past, regulations centered on the government and Ministry of Education were so firmly established that universities tended to shrink and voluntarily give up autonomy in academic operations," adding, "To fundamentally change this, regulatory reform must be completely converted to a negative system."

Representative Lee also conveyed, "We will immediately review and promote improvements to regulations demanded on the ground so that universities can actively implement convergence and linked education required by students and industry."

Based on the discussions that day, the party and government agreed to actively cooperate in follow-up legislative processes such as amendments to the Higher Education Act. The government plans to announce the mid-to-long-term teacher supply and demand plan within this month. Issues related to university academic systems are also expected to be announced this month through the University Regulatory Reform Council.