The Ministry of Education has reconfirmed its policy of de facto abolition of foreign language high schools.
In the case of international high schools, we decided to review whether there is a need to retain them and make a decision by December.
Choi Seong-bu, spokesman for the Ministry of Education, made this statement at the weekly regular briefing on the 1st of this month about the plan related to the reorganization of foreign language high schools and international high schools.
Spokesperson Choi said, "In the case of foreign language high schools established to nurture foreign language specialists, there are aspects that do not fit into the future society, so we are considering abolishing them or converting them to schools specializing in foreign language subjects. We will announce (whether or not to retain) afterward,” he said.
The government plans to include plans to reorganize foreign and international high schools in the high school system reform plan to be announced in December.
Previously, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration overturned the plan to abolish autonomous criminal private high schools and foreign language high schools promoted by the Moon Jae-in administration and suggested the possibility of maintaining these schools by including a plan to maintain a 'diverse high school system' as a national task.
However, the Ministry of Education announced in the presidential business report on the 29th of last month that it would keep only private high schools as they are and abolish foreign high schools.
According to the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, all private high schools nationwide were scheduled to be converted to general high schools on March 1, 2025, but it is expected to continue through the revision of the Enforcement Decree.
On the other hand, foreign high schools are expected to change to general high schools as scheduled, and virtually go through the process of abolition.
In the case of general high schools, the possibility of converting foreign high schools into specialized foreign language schools increased as the government mentioned the operation of specialized schools for subjects in various fields.
Foreign language high school principals across the country immediately expressed their opposition.
The National Council of Foreign Language High School Principals, made up of 30 foreign high school principals, issued a statement and said, “Despite the fact that the President Yoon Seok-yeol transition committee emphasized the constitutionally guaranteed right and freedom to receive education, diversity of education and guarantee of students’ right to choose education (the Ministry of Education ) unilaterally announced the education policy without any discussion or public hearing."
“If we do not withdraw the policy, we will inform the wrong education policy and take all possible measures, including legal action, to actively respond,” he added.
(Photo = Yonhap News)