Special education enrollment surges by 20,000 as number of dedicated schools grows by just 7

The number of students eligible for special education grew by more than 20,000 over four years, yet the number of dedicated special schools nationwide increased by just seven, according to data obtained from the Ministry of Education. The slow pace of new school construction and classroom expansion has left more than 1,500 special education classes across the country exceeding their legally mandated enrollment caps.

Data submitted to the office of Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Han Byung-do show that the number of students eligible for special education rose from 103,695 in 2022 to 124,195 this year — an increase of 20,500, or 19.8 percent. Middle school enrollment recorded the largest gain, climbing from 21,462 to 27,881. Elementary and high school enrollment also rose, by about 10,000 and about 4,600 students, respectively.

Over the same period, the number of special schools nationwide grew from 192 to 199 — an increase of just seven. Much of the student growth was absorbed by special education classes housed within mainstream schools. The number of classes at dedicated special schools rose by 581, from 5,255 to 5,836, while special education classes at mainstream schools increased by 2,714 — from 12,712 to 15,426.

With school and classroom expansion lagging far behind enrollment growth, a significant number of special education classes are now over their legal limits. Under the current Special Education Act for Persons with Disabilities, class sizes are capped at four students for kindergarten, six for elementary and middle school, and seven for high school. This year, 1,540 classes exceeded those thresholds — 158 at dedicated special schools and 1,382 at mainstream schools.

The shortage and overcrowding problem is particularly acute in Gyeonggi Province. Of the 20,500 new special education students added nationwide since 2022, 6,568 — or 32 percent — were in Gyeonggi Province, yet the province added only one special school, bringing its total from 38 to 39. This year, 764 special education classes in Gyeonggi Province exceeded enrollment caps, accounting for 49.6 percent of all such cases nationwide. Among special education classes at mainstream elementary schools in the province, 420 of 2,098 — or 20 percent — were overcrowded, meaning roughly one in five was over capacity.

"Establishing new special schools is a difficult task given the challenges of securing sites and managing community opposition, so we need institutional reform that sets plans at the national level and clearly defines central government funding," Han said. "We must also proactively expand special education classes at the middle and high school levels and establish national placement standards to close the regional gap in support staff deployment."