According to the ministry, these areas will be designated based on local government units (cities and counties), with support tailored to regional conditions. Type 1 areas, which are regions with a small school ratio of over 60%, will include about 30 areas experiencing population decline or other concerns. These areas will focus on building a quality educational ecosystem. Type 2 areas will include about 10 regions outside the metropolitan area and bordering it, which have existing infrastructure like universities and businesses but face significant population outflow and educational disparities. These areas will prioritize reducing educational gaps and strengthening education linked to universities and industries.
Designated areas will receive an annual budget of 2 billion won, totaling up to 10 billion won over five years (40 billion won for metropolitan areas). Depending on the local government's financial independence, a matching investment of 30% to 50% will be required, with additional incentives of up to 1 billion won for regions with outstanding education innovation plans.
Significantly, when linked to small school innovations, substantial financial support will be provided. For example, if three schools merge into one to develop a hub school, the total budget could reach 40 billion won, including the 2 billion won support for Leading Education Innovation Areas, 26 billion won for school merger incentives, 5 billion won for dormitory construction, 4 billion won for building multi-purpose facilities, 2 billion won for supporting the use of closed schools, and 1 to 10 billion won for operational costs.
Local governments can use this funding as a 'fund' to improve educational conditions in the long term.
In response to the rising proportion of small schools, which reached 31.3% last year due to declining school-age populations, the ministry has decided to eliminate uniform regulations imposed by the central government. The 'Guidelines for Promoting Appropriate School Sizes and Restructuring Branch Schools,' established in 2015, will be abolished after 11 years.
Going forward, local education offices will independently establish criteria for school sizes and merger procedures that reflect regional characteristics. The ministry will also increase the 'School Merger Support Fund' by more than 50% compared to previous levels. As a result, support for restructuring will rise significantly, with elementary school support increasing from 4 to 6 billion won to 7.5 billion won, and secondary school support increasing from 9 to 11 billion won to 13 billion won.
This initiative is expected to dramatically improve the educational environment in small rural schools. Previously, it was challenging to secure personnel, leading to the use of itinerant native-speaking assistants; now, these assistants will be stationed at hub schools to handle regular and after-school classes, along with high-quality after-school programs linked to local universities and specialized institutions.
The previously uniform curriculum will be transformed into student-centered classes, with the establishment of 'Inquiry Schools' and autonomous public high schools. The program will also support the recruitment and additional placement of excellent teachers. Furthermore, safety measures for commuting will be enhanced through the operation of school buses or taxis, and modern gymnasiums and AI education support centers utilizing closed schools will be established, providing educational infrastructure comparable to urban areas.
The ministry plans to finalize and announce the basic plan after gathering feedback from the field by the end of this month, with evaluations for designation occurring in the second half of the year, aiming to launch the initiative next year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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