By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter

There are 31.6 students on average per class in elementary schools here, much higher than the OECD average of 21.5, meaning the nation's public education system has a long way to go to catch up with those of advanced countries. The story is the same for middle and high schools.

According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) yesterday, the number of students per teacher in elementary, middle and high schools stood at 26.7, 20.8 and 15.9, respectively, higher than the OECD average of 16.2, 13.3 and 12.6.

But the ratios of students to class and teacher here are projected to head south, as more schools will be built and more teachers will be hired in the future, with fewer school-aged children as a result of rapidly falling birthrates.

The number of students per class and per teacher will reach the OECD average in three to nine years if the government continues to hire new teachers and construct new schools at the current pace. The ratio of students in elementary and middle schools to class would decline to the OECD average by 2012 and 2016, respectively, while the student-to-teacher ratios in elementary, middle and high schools would fall to as low as OECD levels by 2012 and 2015.

The statistical office projected the number of students in primary and secondary students will decrease by more than 40 percent in 2030 from 2007, meaning if there were 10 students in 2007, there will be fewer than six in 2030.

The number of elementary and middle school students will continue to head downward in the future, while high school students will peak at 2010 and then decline.

``There will likely be more teachers and schools than needed nationwide, beginning from 2012, because of declining birthrates. By 2030, the government will be forced to close some schools and lay off teachers, with Korean women having fewer babies. The focus should shift to providing high-quality educational services from building new schools and employing more teachers,'' an NSO official said.

The birthrate, or the average number of babies expected per woman aged 15-49, has been declining for more than 20 years. In 2005, the country recorded the lowest rate of 1.08 but rebounded to 1.13 in 2006 and 1.26 in 2007. But last year, the rate fell again, to 1.2.

leehs@koreatimes.co.kr