By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

All elementary and middle schools in Seoul will have at least one native English-speaking teacher from next fall semester. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has recently hired 235 foreign teachers, resulting in a total of 489 native English speakers currently teaching at 446 schools across the city.

Approximately 41 percent of elementary schools and 54 percent of middle schools in the city now have assistant foreign English teachers. The education authority plans to field an additional 280 foreign teachers for next semester, resulting in more than 70 percent of elementary and middle schools having foreign teachers.

The education office has allotted an extra 24 billion won ($ 23 million) this year for the plans because of parents growing demand for native English speakers at schools.

Apart from the money pledged by the education office, many ward offices are raising funds to increase the number of native-speaking teachers at schools in their districts. Last year, four ward offices provided some 5.24 billion won to employ native English teachers, with the amount expected to double this year.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr