Korean Schools Have Larger Class Sizes than OECD Average
The local press, including the Korea Times, are covering an OECD study that shows Korean schools to be more crowded than schools in other OECD nations. There are 31.6 students on average per class in elementary schools here, much higher than the OECD average of 21.5. According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) yesterday, the number of students per teacher in elementary, middle and high schools stood at 26.7, 20.8 and 15.9, respectively, higher than the OECD average of 16.2, 13.3 and 12.6. The number of students per class and per teacher will reach the OECD average in three to nine years if the government continues to hire new teachers and construct new schools at the current pace. “There will likely be more teachers and schools than needed nationwide, beginning from 2012, because of declining birthrates. By 2030, the government will be forced to close some schools and lay off teachers, with Korean women having fewer babies. The focus should shift to providing high-quality educational services from building new schools and employing more teachers,” an NSO official said.