Nine Meister High Schools in Gyeongbuk Record 1.9-to-1 Competition Ratio, Up 0.44 Points From Last Year

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education announced on October 26 that the average competition ratio for applications to the 2027 intake at Meister high schools and the special admissions round at agreement-based specialized high schools rose to 1.65 to 1, up from 1.41 to 1 the previous year.

A total of 2,350 students applied for 1,424 places at 13 schools in Gyeongbuk, including Meister high schools and agreement-based specialized high schools. That was 366 more applicants than the previous year, when 1,984 students applied for 1,403 places. The figures show strong student interest in vocational high schools in Gyeongbuk despite the continued decline in the school-age population.

Gyeongbuk Office of Education

In particular, nine Meister high schools received 1,703 applications for 894 places, recording a competition ratio of 1.90 to 1. This was up 0.44 points from 1.46 to 1 the previous year, a rise attributed to growing student interest in specialized technical education tailored to industry demand and curricula linking education with career pathways and employment.

Among applicants to Meister high schools, 517 students came from other cities and provinces, accounting for about 30.4% of all applicants. This number is equivalent to 57.8% of the total places at Meister high schools, showing that vocational high schools in Gyeongbuk are becoming an attractive career choice for students across the country.

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education believes the rise in competition ratios reflects its sustained efforts to strengthen vocational education, including reorganizing departments to meet the needs of emerging industries in response to changes in the regional industrial structure and fostering agreement-based specialized high schools.

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education said, "We have pursued various policies to help students make career choices and develop their employability, including reorganizing departments and curricula at vocational high schools to reflect workforce demand in emerging and strategic industries, and strengthening specialized technical education linked to industry. We are expanding cooperation between local businesses and educational institutions and incorporating the practical skills required in the workplace into school curricula, helping students acquire specialized skills suited to their aptitudes and talents and prepare for the future."

Gyeongbuk Superintendent of Education Lim Jong-sik said, "Despite the challenging circumstances created by the declining school-age population, students and parents are showing growing interest in and expectations for vocational high schools in Gyeongbuk. We will continue to strengthen the competitiveness of vocational education in Gyeongbuk through curriculum innovation tailored to emerging and strategic industries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.