Class Size Reduction Policy in South Korea        

 

Soomyung Jang

Research Fellow, Korean Educational Development Institute

Category    Total      2001 2002 2003   2004

◦ Teaching-Learning Method Improvement 266 - 86 87 91

◦ Class Size Reduction

(Existing Budget)

12,280

(9,920)

2,473

(2,473)3,274 3,476

3,054

(2,500)

- Building New Schools

    (1,099 Schools)

9,920

(9,920)

2,473

(2,473)

2,473

(2,473)

2,473

(2,373)

2,500

(2,500)

-Additional New High Schools (109 Schools) 1,635 - 540 540 555

- New Classrooms

    (14,494 Classrooms) 725 - 261 463

◦ Hiring New Teachers

    (23,600) 1,164 - 220 472 472

◦ Facility Building for the 7th Curriculum     

(31,316 Special Classrooms)

2,400

(2,400)

600

(600)

600

(600)

600

(600)

600

(600)

◦Total 16,110 3,073 4,181 4,636 4,219

  <Table I -1> Planned Budget for School Environment Improvement                                                                               (Unit: Billion Won)

   <Source: Ministry of Education and Human Resources 2001.7.20>

<Figure I-1> 

ST ratio

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 year

elementary middle General high Vocational high

ST ratio

<Figure I-1>

Class size

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

year

Class size

elementary middle General high Vocational high

<Figure I-2>

< Table I -2> The Changes in the Average Class Size after the Class Size Reduction Project began

● Elementary School : 35.6 (2001) → 33.9 (2003) ⇒ 1.7 reduction

● Middle School : 37.3 (2001) → 34.8 (2003) ⇒ 2.5 reduction

● High School : 39.7 (2001) → 33.1 (2003) ⇒ 6.6 reduction

<Table I-3> Students in and Schools with Large Classes in 2001

 

Class Size larger than 35 Class Size larger than 40

The number of schools(Average

school Size)

The number of students (%)

The number of schools(Average

School Size)

The number of students (%)

Elementary School

2162(1,498)

3,238,676(79)

908(1,818)

1,650,744(40)

Middle School

1,383(978)

1,352,574(74)

663(1,148)

761,124(42)

General High School

961(1,222)

1,174,342(93)

651(1,389)

904,239(72)

Vocational School

396(1,207)

477,972(74)

159(1,372)

218,148(34)

<Table I-4> Students in and Schools with Large Classes in 2003

 

Class Size larger than 35 Class Size larger than 40

The number of schools(Average

School Size)

The number of students (%)

The number of schools(Average

School Size)

The number of students (%)

Elementary School

1,760(1,543)

2,715,680(65)

609(1,817)

1,106,553(27)

Middle School

1,024(1,070)

1,095,680(59)

244(1,312)

320,128(17)

General High

School

316(1,286)

406,376(33.2)

21(957)

20,097(1.6)

Vocational School

77(1,192)

91,861(16.9%)

1(530)

530(0.1)

<Source: Korea Educational Statistics Each Year>

VariablesAverag

eStandard deviation

Min MaxNumber of Students in

2003 Change in Number of Students (2003-1999)Change in Class Size

(2003-1999)

Class Size in 2003

Change in Number of Classes (2003-1999)Change in Student-Teacher Ratio(2003-

1999)Student-Teacher Ratio

2003Change in Number of Teachers(2003-1999)

Change in ST ratio(2003-1999)

School Size in 2003

22,858

1,365

-0.98

27.82

66

-0.94

21.64

92

9.99

531.98

27,144

3,985

1.72

7.50

136

1.68

6.80

180

68.87

457.91

629

-4,531

-5.99

10.85

-76

-6.04

8.56

-90

-264.5

41.32

130,575

23,853

4.29

42.17

685

3.49

35.68

877

252.59

1625.93

<Table I-5> Changes in Educational Environment of Elementary Schools in 180 School Districts

<Unit: Person>

<Source: Korea Educational Statistics Each Year>

VariablesAverag

eStandard deviation

Min MaxNumber of Students in

2003 Change in Number of Students (2003-1999)Change in Class Size

(2003-1999)

Class Size in 2003

Change in Number of Classes (2003-1999)Change in Student-Teacher Ratio(2003-

1999)Student-Teacher Ratio

2003Change in Number of Teachers(2003-1999)

Change in school size(2003-1999)

School Size in 2003

60,228

1,600

-2.85

34.94

166

-3.34

28.00

-52.73

272

1152.69

24,415

3,847

1.48

2.96

1.54

1.38

2.74

76.47

198

310.21

4,166

-4,033

-5.99

22.89

-23

-6.04

16.53

-264.43

5

181.13

130,575

16,049

0.07

37.89

623

-0.95

30.82

66.13

877

1625.93

<Table I-6> Changes in Educational Environment of Elementary Schools in 29 Large City School

Districts <Unit: Person>

<Source: Korea Educational Statistics Each Year>

VariablesAverag

eStandard deviation

Min MaxNumber of Students in

2003 Change in Number of Students (2003-1999)Change in Class Size

(2003-1999)

Class Size in 2003

Change in Number of Classes (2003-1999)Change in Student-Teacher Ratio(2003-

1999)Student-Teacher Ratio

2003Change in Number of Teachers(2003-1999)

Change in school size(2003-1999)

School Size in 2003

29,093

2,997

-0.96

32.59

107

-0.87

26.06

136

23.69

676.85

25,202

5,471

1.38

5.48

1.60

1.36

5.10

200

85.73

412.59

3,644

-4,531

-3.51

21.56

-39

-3.68

15.84

-52

264.52

163.5

116,097

23,853

2.47

42.17

685

2.31

35.68

866

252.59

1576.73

<Table I-7> Changes in Educational Environment of Elementary Schools in 64 City School Districts in 10

Provinces<Unit: Person>

<Source: Korea Educational Statistics Each Year>

VariablesAverag

eStandard deviation

Min MaxNumber of Students in

2003 Change in Number of Students (2003-1999)Change in Class Size

(2003-1999)

Class Size in 2003

Change in Number of Classes (2003-1999)Change in Student-Teacher Ratio(2003-

1999)Student-Teacher Ratio

2003Change in Number of Teachers(2003-1999)

Change in school size(2003-1999)

School Size in 2003

5814

85.41

-0.37

21.93

2.26

-0.19

16.26

-1.02

20.82

218.50

8,969

1,630

1.57

4.80

59.43

1.17

4.13

66.93

31.64

188.28

629

-1,115

-4.63

10.85

-76

-2.71

8.56

-90

-63.0

41.32

58,148

11,740

4.29

38.41

351

3.49

31.77

358

199.17

1418.24

<Table I-8> Changes in Educational Environment of Elementary Schools in 87 Rural School Districts in 10

Provinces<Unit: Person>

<Figure I-3> Average Class Size of Elementary Schools Across 180 School Districts in 1999 and 2003

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50교

육청

코드

장수

교육

청

산청

교육

청

화천

교육

청

무안

교육

청

장흥

교육

청

양구

교육

청

예천

교육

청

영광

교육

청

김제

교육

청

논산

교육

청

영동

교육

청

강화

교육

청

옥천

교육

청

당진

교육

청

통영

교육

청

여수

교육

청

서산

교육

청

경주

교육

청

원주

교육

청

진주

교육

청

부산

동부

교육

청

동래

교육

청

대전

동부

교육

청

울산

강북

교육

청

창원

교육

청

군포

교육

청

인천

북부

교육

청

Cla

ss s

ize

180 school districts

1999 2003

<Figure I-4 > Student-Teacher Ratios of Elementary Schools across 180 School Districts in 1999 and 2003

<Figure I-5> Class Size and ST Ratio in Elementary Schools in Imsil School District in North Choella Province 

Imsil School District in the North Choenlla Province

0 5

10 15 20 25 30 35

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Class size(max=3.27 min=6)

ST ratio(max=21.62 min=3.60)

<Figure I-6 > Class Size and ST Ratio in Elementary Schools in Changnyoung School District in South Kyoungsang Province 

Changnyoung School District in South Kyoungsang Province

0 5

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Class size(max=35.31 min=6.33) ST ratio(max=29.61 min=4.75)

<Figure I-7 > Class Size and ST Ratio in Elementary Schools in Ansan School District in Kyounggi Province

Ansan School District in Kyounggi Province

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

1 4 7 1

0

1

3

1

6

1

9

2

2

2

5

2

8

3

1

3

4

3

7

4

0

4

3

4

6

4

9

5

2

5

5

5

8

6

1

6

4

6

7 Class size (max=49 min=11.6)

ST ratio (max=42.98 min=7.78)

<Figure I-8 > Class Size and ST Ratio in Elementary Schools in Cheonan School District in South Chungcheong Province

Cheonan School District in South Chungcheong Province

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

1 3 5 7 9 1

1

1

3

1

5

1

7

1

9

2

1

2

3

2

5

2

7

2

9

3

1

3

3

3

5

3

7

3

9

4

1

4

3

4

5

4

7

4

9

5

1 Class size(max=48.03 min=9.5)

ST ratio(max=40.91 min=6.33)

<Table I-9> Class size reduction of high schools in each ward in Seoul

Ward

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Class Size

(2001)

45

43

43

50

48

48

49

48

49

48

Class Size

(2002)

37

37

35

35

40

37

38

39

39

38

Change in

Class Size-8

-6

-8

-15

-8

-11

-11

-9

-10

-10

ST Ratio(2001-2002)

23 19

22 19

21 18

23 17

25 20

24 19

24 18

24 20

25 19

28 21

Change in ST Ratio

-5

-6

-5

-9

-6

-7

-8

-6

-8

-8

Change in Student Number

(1998-2002)-4,994

-2,380

-2,686

-424

-2,949

-954

-2,055

-2,385

619

-886

11 49 39 -10 24 20 -6 -67612 42 36 -6 23 20 -5 -295813 42 35 -7 21 18 -5 -215514 43 37 -6 22 18 -6 -114315 47 36 -6 24 19 -6 -208516 45 39 -5 24 21 -6 -481917 43 36 -6 21 18 -5 -8418 43 36 -7 23 19 -7 -143319 42 34 -8 19 16 -7 -252320 42 34 -8 21 18 -6 -11721 41 34 -7 20 17 -7 -453622 41 35 -6 20 17 -7 -515023 41 36 -6 21 19 -5 -689924 44 38 -6 21 18 -6 -467525 44 37 -7 22 18 -6 -3991

  7100Classe

s

8025Classe

s

+925Classes

14125Teacher

s

15825Teacher

s

+1700Teache

r

-20,425(2001-2002)

(-552 classes)If class size is

37(+1075

Teachers)

Average

44.8 36.7 -7.9 22.6 18.6 -6.3

    <Source: Korea Educational Statistics Each Year>

<Source: MOE& HR South Korea>

<Table I-10> Temporary Teachers

4Chuju 107Kangwon 

473South Kyunsang 995Kyunggi 

256North Kyungsang 160Ulsan 

166South Cheolla 211Kwangju 

101North Cheolla 116Incheon 

1,261South Chungcheung 141Daegue 

127North Chungcheung 168Pusan 

Temporary Teacher

City or Province Temporary Teacher

City or Province

<Table I-11> Annual number of the graduates and expected graduates from universities of

education (unit: person)

7,5372007

5,732200654992,003

4,933200550722,002

5,350200451952,001

Expected Graduates Year GraduatesYear

<Source: MOE&HD>  

<Table I-12> Employment Plans

(unit: person)

21,400

22,20021,100

19,600

15,700

12,300

New Teachers

200820072006200520042003Year

<Source: MOE&HD>  

<Table I-13> Effects of Class Size Reduction on Class Management and Student Guidance in High Schools

Easier Class Management and Student Guidance

through more familiarity with

Students?

Agree very much

Agree

Do not agree

Do not agree at all

Total

625(28.38)

1319(59.90)

219(9.95)

39(1.77)

2202(100)

437(35.21)

709(57.13)

79(6.37)

16(1.29)

1241(100)

Class size Reduction

Less than 6

Class size Reduction Between 6 and 10

Class size Reduction

More than 10

N(%) N(%) N(%)301

(41.43)

371(50.89)

48(6.58)

8(1.10)

729(100)

More Concentration on classes and better

teaching?

Agree very much

Agree

Do not agree

Do not agree at all

Total

543(24.69)

1312(59.66)

286(13.01)

58(2.64)

2199(100)

366(29.54)

737(59.48)

117(9.44)

19(1.53)

1239(100)

Class size Reduction

Less than 6

Class size Reduction Between 6 and 10

Class size Reduction

More than 10

N(%) N(%) N(%)

240(32.92)

402(55.14)

75(10.29)

12(1.65)

729(100)

Closer Relationship With Students?

Agree very much

Agree

Do not agree

Do not agree at all

Total

450(20.45)

1302(59.18)

392(17.82)

56(2.55)

2200(100)

294(23.75)

719(58.08)

205(16.56)

20(1.62)

1238(100)

Class size Reduction

Less than 6

Class size Reduction Between 6 and 10

Class size Reduction

More than 10

N(%) N(%) N(%)

197(27.10)

419(57.63)

98(13.48)

13(1.79)

727(100)

<Table I-14> Class Size Reduction between 2002 and 2003

(unit: person)Class Size in 2003 Compared to

in 2002Frequenc

yPercent

(%)

Almost the Same 7649 65.95

Smaller 2317 19.98

Larger 1633 14.08

Total 11599 100

<Table I-15> Recognition of Effects of Class Size Reduction by Students

( % )

*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001

Class Size

Change between

2002 and

2003

Total2597(226)

6275(54.6)

1262(11.0)

170(1.5)

11492(100)

Easier to get teacher’s personal

attention and guidance?

Not at all

 Do Not Agree

Do not Know

AgreeAgree Strongl

yTotal X2

Almost Same

Smaller

Larger

708(9.37)

219(9.49)

261(16.04

)

1536(20.33

)

481(20.84

)

580(35.65

)

4430(58.62

)

1160(50.26

)

685(42.10

)

786(10.40

)

389(16.85

)

87(5.35)

97(1.28)

59(2.56)

14(0.86)

7557(100)

2308(100)

1627(100)

425.715***

df=8

 

*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001

Class Size

Change between

2002 and

2003

Total2660(23.1)

5578(48.5)

1757(15.3)

257(2.2)

1149(100)

Easier Taking Classes Due to

Better Class Climate?

Not at all

 Do Not Agree

Do not Know

AgreeAgree Strongl

yTotal X2

Almost Same

Smaller

Larger

736(9.74)

210(9.09)

300(18.42

)

1662(21.98

)

491(21.26

)

507(31.12

)

3921(51.87

)

1034(44.78

)

623(38.24

)

1096(14.5)

498(21.57)

163(10.01)

145(1.92)

76(3.29)

36(2.21)

7560(100)

2309(100)

1629(100)

320.939***

df=8

 

Class Size

Change between

2002 and

2003

Total2540(22.1)

6250(54.4)

1456(12.7)

186(1.6)

1149(100)

Not at all

 Do Not Agree

Do not Know

AgreeAgree Strongl

yTotal X2

Almost Same

Smaller

Larger

615(8.14)

209(9.06)

235(14.44

)

1574(20.83

)

455(19.72

)

511(31.41

)

4317(57.13

)

1212(52.54

)

721(44.31

)

937(12.40

)

377(16.34

)

142(8.73)

114(1.51)

54(2.34)

18(1.11)

7557(100)

2307(100)

1627(100)

430.824***

df=8

 

Easier Participation

in Class Activities?

*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001

Class Size

Change between

2002 and

2003

Total1062(9.2)

5948(51.7)

3197(27.8)

663(5.8)

1149(100)

Not at all

 Do Not Agree

Do not Know

AgreeAgree Strongl

yTotal X2

Almost Same

Smaller

Larger

381(5.04)

135(5.85)

109(6.70)

614(8.12)

228(9.88)

220(13.52

)

4102(54.25

)

1075(46.60

)

771(47.39

)

2033(26.89

)

726(31.47

)

438(26.92

)

431(5.70)

143(6.20)

89(5.47)

7561(100)

2307(100)

1627(100)

320.939***

df=8

 

Getting along with

classmates better?

*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001

<Table I-16> Optimum Class Size for Educational Consideration

(Unit : person)

 

Elementar

y Scho

ol

Desirable Class Size

Actual

Class Size

Middle

School

Desirable Class Size

Actual

Class Size

   Average SeoulLarge cities

Medium and Small

CitiesRural Areas

1997

2001

2003198

41997

2001

1984

1997200

11984 1997 2001

1984

26.1 23.320

(22.5)

-21.7-30.7

23.9 -24.2-31.6

24.5 -23.3-29.3

23.8-

35.0 35.5 33.4 - 36.7 36.9 56.8 38.6 37.1 54.2 - - 40.9

28.6 23.3 22.5 - 25.0-29.1

23.9 -26.3-30.3

24.5 -27.1-33.3

23.8 -

1984

26-30

47.2

26-30

63.2 43.6 37.2 34.7 - 41.1 33.9 67.0 45.4 39.3 64.6 - - 59.3

1997

22.0-26.3

25.3

25.6-33.2

39.3

2001

21.2

29.1

21.7

31.9