Surge in Multicultural Student Population Challenges South Korean Schools
A recent study by the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI) has revealed a significant rise in the number of schools with high percentages of multicultural students in South Korea. Currently, the country has 350 schools with a multicultural student population of over 30 percent of the entire student body. This number is equivalent to 2.96 percent of all schools in South Korea.
This student population has increased by 40 percent since 2018. The Ministry of Education classifies schools with more than 100 students and over 30 percent with international backgrounds as having a “high concentration” of this demographic. Last year, 87 schools met this criterion, up from just 23 in 2018.
This trend underscores the growing diversity within South Korean educational institutions and highlights the challenges in providing a balanced education to a diverse student body. The increase in multicultural students necessitates enhanced multicultural education policies and teacher training programs to ensure that these students receive equitable educational opportunities. The Ministry of Education and KEDI will create more inclusive curricula and provide more support to teachers to address the unique needs of multicultural students effectively. Experts have presented recommendations to ensure that multicultural students can fully integrate and thrive within the South Korean education system.
J.K. Park Staff Reporter junior/1727231202/1613367801
1. How many schools in South Korea have a multicultural student population of over 30 percent?
2. By what percentage has the multicultural student population increased since 2018?
3. What does the Ministry of Education consider a “high concentration” of multicultural students?
4. What is being done to help teachers provide better education for multicultural students?
1. Do you have friends from different countries or cultures in your school? What do you learn from them?
2. How would you feel if you went to a school in a different country? What would you want to learn?
3. What can teachers do to help students from different backgrounds feel welcome in class?
4. Have you ever participated in an activity where you learned about other cultures? What was it like?
A recent study by the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI) has revealed a significant rise in the number of schools with high percentages of multicultural students in South Korea. Currently, the country has 350 schools with a multicultural student population of over 30 percent of the entire student body. This number is equivalent to 2.96 percent of all schools in South Korea.
