From now on, provincial education offices across the country will be required to develop and submit annual plans for the establishment of special schools and special classes to the Ministry of Education.
On June 18, the Ministry of Education announced that a revised bill concerning the Special Education Law for Individuals with Disabilities passed the National Assembly.
The key provision of this amendment mandates that education superintendents submit annual special education operation plans to the Minister of Education. These plans must include a yearly outline for the establishment of special classes in special schools and other educational institutions.
Additionally, the collected plans from each province will be directly reflected in the annual report on special education published by the government. The revised law is set to take effect six months after its promulgation.
The Ministry anticipates that this legislative change will lead to a more systematic approach to establishing special schools and classes that reflect regional needs. It is particularly expected to alleviate the long-standing issue of transportation burdens for students with disabilities and significantly improve overall educational conditions.
The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations expressed its support for the amendment in a statement released the same day. The union noted, "The implementation status of special education by each education office will now be subject to ongoing scrutiny by the National Assembly and the public," adding that it is significant that the improvement of special education conditions has been elevated from an internal task of education offices to a matter of public responsibility.
The union emphasized that the annual plans should specifically outline the status of overcrowded classes, the list of schools targeted for new or expanded facilities, as well as budget and classroom allocation strategies, and plans for securing special education teacher positions, stressing the importance of translating these plans into practical implementation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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