Declining student population spurs increase in co-education transition requests

Students go to school in the morning at a girls' high school in southwestern Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, June 1, 2023. Newsis

As Korea grapples with a declining population due to a low birthrate, a growing number of single-gender schools are transitioning to co-education.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), seven gender-segregated schools in the city have applied to switch to co-education as of July. The number has more than doubled compared to last year when only three schools sought conversion.

On average, SMOE received about two conversion inquiries annually, but this year the number has surged to approximately 10 inquiries.

In Seoul, 90 out of 390 middle schools, or 23 percent, and 151 out of 318 high schools, or 47.5 percent, are gender-segregated, admitting only boys or girls.

A significant number of applications to switch to co-education come from girls' schools. Last year, all three schools that applied for the change — Hwagok Nursing and Business High School, Yumkwang Meditech High School and Mirim Girls' Information Science High School — were girls' schools.

This trend continues this year, with a higher proportion of girls' schools seeking to welcome male students, according to an official at the SMOE.

In areas with a high concentration of single-gender schools, nearby coeducational institutions are experiencing severe gender imbalances. Additionally, students may face significant inconvenience if their gender-specific school is located far from home.

"With a noticeable drop in the school-age population, schools are increasingly focused on attracting more students by addressing convenience and accessibility issues," an SMOE official told The Korea Times.

The primary driver behind the shift to mixed-gender education is the challenge of student recruitment.

According to an annual report by the education agency, the number of elementary, middle and high school students in Seoul has declined to 768,948 in 2024, a 2 percent decrease from 784,871 the previous year and an 8.5 percent drop from 849,933 in 2020.

Furthermore, Statistics Korea also projects a decline in the school-age population, which is expected to fall from 7.5 million in 2022 to 4.12 million by 2040.

The education agency has also noted a growing trend of not only single-gender schools but also specialized schools applying to transition to mixed-gender general schools.

These specialized institutions are adapting by creating new departments that appeal to a broader range of students, aiming to attract both boys and girls.

Aligned with this, SMOE announced plans in April this year to increase financial support for schools making the switch.

Previously, financial support for schools transitioning to co-education was limited to facility improvements. However, schools undergoing the transition will now receive 600 million won in funding over three years. Additionally, 90 million won will be allocated over the same period to cover labor costs for hiring school counselors.

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Lingering resistance

Despite the trend toward mixed-gender education, some parents and students still prefer single-sex schools due to perceived advantages in academic performance and life management.

A mother of a high school student in Mok-dong, a highly competitive educational area in Seoul, reflected, "We chose a girls' high school for my child to provide a focused and comfortable environment for studying without boys."

Opposition to mixed-gender classes is relatively strong at boys' schools, where parents often argue that integrating girls could negatively impact their academic performance.

Additionally, many of these institutions, with their long histories and strong alumni networks, face significant resistance from former students who are wary of changing established traditions.

Dorim High School in Incheon was met with significant opposition when it attempted to transition recently, with 90 percent of teachers, 76 percent of parents and 64 percent of students opposing the change.

Concerns centered around potential declines in academic performance and disruptions to the existing support systems for students.

Park Nam-gi, a professor at Gwangju National University of Education, pointed out that while neo-Confucian values once dictated separate education for boys and girls, the current emphasis on social and communication skills necessitates more integrated learning environments.

"Schools are also struggling with declining student numbers," Park said.

He explained that while private schools with a deep-rooted founding philosophy may resist change, many girls' schools are now shifting toward gender inclusion as those original purposes become less relevant.

"Many girls' schools were originally founded to address specific educational needs for female students. However, as gender-based discrimination in education has diminished, these institutions are increasingly opting to transition to co-education."