How many more science high schools will be built in the Gyeonggi region? New designation for the first time in 20 years |

Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, preliminary designation at the end of November
Gyeonggi-do, the most populous province, has only one science high school
12 places including Goyang, Seongnam, Hwaseong, and Ansan where children are expected to be born
Superintendent of Education Lim Tae-hee says, “3 or 4 is appropriate”

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education announced on the 11th that it plans to designate science high schools as preliminary schools by November of this year. This is the first time in 20 years that science high schools will be newly designated, and the number of schools to be designated as preliminary schools was not disclosed.

Superintendent of Education Lim Tae-hee said in a press conference in July of this year, “Considering that the number of students is 30% of the national total, three or four science high schools would be an appropriate number.”

As of the first half of this year (January to June), the population of Gyeonggi Province is approximately 13.63 million. However, the only science high school that fosters scientific talent is Gyeonggibuk Science High School in Uijeongbu.

However, there is Gyeonggi Science High School in Suwon, but it is a science gifted high school that focuses on gifted education centered on math and science. General science high schools, like foreign language high schools, are classified as specialized high schools and mainly provide general subjects and advanced education centered on math and science.

Because of this, students in the Gyeonggi region who wish to advance to science high schools are relatively disadvantaged in terms of educational benefits and choice of schools.

There are two science high schools each in Seoul (9.38 million), Busan (3.28 million), Incheon (3 million), Gyeongbuk (2.54 million), and Gyeongnam (3.24 million), which have relatively smaller populations than Gyeonggi Province. Recently, voices calling for the establishment of science high schools in the Gyeonggi region have been growing louder.

Currently, 12 local governments have expressed their intention to attract science high schools, including Seongnam, Goyang, Icheon, Bucheon, Gwangmyeong, Hwaseong, Ansan, Yongin, Pyeongtaek, Siheung, Gunpo, and Gwacheon. The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education will receive applications for attracting science high schools in early November and then make preliminary designations after a separate evaluation committee.

The evaluation criteria are divided into three areas: △school establishment 40 points, △school operation 30 points, and △curriculum 30 points. By area, the purpose of applying for a science high school, establishment and operation budget, school site selection and acquisition, regional specialized curriculum and diversification are evaluated.

If the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education designates a science high school in November, it will go through procedures such as deliberation by the Special Purpose High School Designation and Management Committee, approval by the Minister of Education, and designation and announcement by the Gyeonggi Provincial Superintendent of Education. The science high schools that are being converted from general high schools are targeted to open in March 2027, and the newly established science high schools are targeted to open in March 2030.