Newly Built Schools "Facing Student Shortage"

Newly built schools across Gyeonggi Province are suffering from "student shortages" due to various problems, including faulty student demand predictions by education authorities.

According to the Provincial Office of Education on the 16th, Seongji Elementary School in Yongin, which opened in March 2005, initially planned to accommodate 1,260 students but currently has only 195 students—just 15.5% of the original target—two years after opening.

Sanghyun Middle School in Yongin, which opened in March 2004, was also established to accommodate 840 students, but currently has only 161 students (19.2%) three years after opening. Nearby Hyenam Middle School also falls far short, with 344 current students representing only 23.4% of its original 1,470-capacity plan.

Dongcheon Elementary School in Yongin, which opened in March 2001, currently has 408 students—32.4% of its original capacity of 1,260—six years after opening. Ipbuk Elementary School in Suwon, which opened in March 2004 with a capacity of 1,080, currently has only 194 students (18.0%).

Similarly, Hohyeong Elementary School in Namyangju, which opened in March 2004 with a capacity plan for 1,260 students, currently has only 160 students, far below the original goal.

A significant number of newly built schools in the province that opened since 2001 have failed to reach their planned student enrollment, with particularly severe shortages observed at schools in Yongin, where large apartment complexes continue to be developed.

According to data from an investigation by the Provincial Office of Education in August 2005, among 303 elementary, middle, and high schools that opened between March 2001 and March 2005 across the province, total current enrollment represents only 21.2% of the originally planned capacity.

As newly built schools constructed at costs of hundreds of billions of won face severe student shortages, many classrooms in these schools remain empty, drawing criticism for wasting public funds.

Hohyeong Elementary School in Namyangju, for example, was established with 36 classrooms but currently operates only 6 classes, leaving approximately 20 classrooms vacant.

In the province, Cheongun Elementary School in Yongin, which opened in March 2005 with a planned capacity of 1,260 students (36 classes), has only 26 enrolled students, resulting in the school's closure just six months after opening.

The student shortage at newly built schools in the province is attributed to multiple factors: ad hoc student demand forecasting and school establishment by education authorities, failure to adjust school districts in newly built school areas in a timely manner, some parents' preference for or avoidance of specific schools, and delays in new apartment occupancy due to economic downturns and construction delays.

The Provincial Office of Education and city/county education offices set the number of students per household at approximately 0.30–0.40 and uniformly apply this figure when establishing school construction plans, drawing criticism for failing to adequately reflect recent low birth rate trends and regional characteristics.

In contrast, Dongbaek Elementary School in Yongin, which opened in March of last year with plans to accommodate 1,360 students (34 classes), currently has 1,750 students (42 classes) one year later, far exceeding the original plan and becoming an overcrowded school.

Education authorities have also faced criticism for establishing additional schools within 1 km of existing newly built schools facing student shortages, citing resident complaints, thereby exacerbating the student shortage at existing schools.

Residents argue that "since constructing one school costs an average of 2 billion won and many classrooms remain unused, this represents a form of budget waste," emphasizing the need for thorough review before establishing new schools.

The Provincial Office of Education stated, "The student shortage at newly built schools resulted from complex factors including unforeseen circumstances such as delays in planned apartment complex occupancy," and added, "Moving forward, we will thoroughly prepare from the establishment review stage to prevent such student shortage schools from occurring again."

The office also noted, "We plan to develop and implement measures for each city and county education office to address schools currently facing student shortages."