By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Education authorities have failed to secure enough applicants for the government's ``Practical English Instructors'' project.

The Lee Myung-bak administration plans to recruit about 10,000 special lecturers over the next two years, aiming to improve the practical English skills of students and cut private education costs.

The instructors, who will use only English in class, are expected to replace foreign teachers in the long term.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Sunday, nine out of the 16 city and provincial education offices have suffered a shortage of applicants.

Taken as a whole, the government appears to have succeeded in its recruitment drive: There were 4,543 applications for the 4,228 jobs this year ㅡ 1,963 in elementary and 2,265 in secondary schools.

But on closer inspection, the data showed that nine regional education offices were unable to attract enough applicants.

North Chungcheong had exactly 113 applicants for its recruitment quota ㅡ also 113 ㅡ while North Gyeongbuk received only 204 for its 274 posts. In South Jeolla, just 170 applied for the 208 jobs on offer in the province.

Additionally, applications for posts at secondary schools fell short by some 200.

The ministry admitted the shortage was due to the program's lack of promotion.

``Those who don't have teaching licenses can apply for a job, but it seems that many didn't know about it. Also, many teacher hopefuls with teaching licenses didn't apply for the lecturer jobs because they are preparing for exams for regular teacher positions due in October,'' a ministry official said.

But schools say that individuals who are capable of conducting English-only classes will not apply for the jobs.

The instructors will receive a salary of about 26 million won on a one-year contract and can renew for a maximum of four years at one school.

``It would be much better for me to work at private cram schools as they pay higher salaries and working conditions are better there,'' said an 28-year-old Korean American lecturer in Gyeonggi Province.

The successful candidates will be announced in August to start work in the fall semester. Practical English lecturers will take part in extended English classes at elementary schools. Those at secondary schools will group students according to their academic level and offer tailor-made classes.

Another 5,000 lecturers are to be recruited next year.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr