INCA Education around the world
Korea : Initial Teacher Training
7.5 Initial training of teachers working with students with special educational needs in publicly funded mainstream or special schools
7.5.1 Control
7.5.2 Types of training institutions and courses
7.5.2.1 Admissions
7.5.3 Trainers
7.5.4 Curriculum for initial teacher training
7.5.5 Qualifications and standards
7.5.5.1 Qualifications and entitlement
7.5.5.2 Probationary periods
7.5.6 Post-qualification induction periods
Please note that the initial teacher training sections of the website were originally funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). They have not been updated since March 2009 and the information provided in them by have been superseded.
This section of the INCA website describes initial teacher training for teachers of students with special educational needs. For information on initial teacher training for teachers in pre-compulsory, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary mainstream education, see sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 of the mainstream country archive respectively.
7.5 Initial training of teachers working with students with special educational needs in publicly funded mainstream or special schools
Children with special educational needs in Korea may be taught in special schools, in special classes in mainstream schools or receive integrated education in normal school classes. There is a move towards unified education, that is, educating children with special needs in general/mainstream schools.
7.5.1 Control
The Special Education Promotion Law (amended 1997) allows for the pre-service training of special school teachers. See section 7.2.1. for further details of the control of initial teacher training. 10
7.5.2 Types of training institutions and courses
Special school teachers are trained in colleges of education, on teacher training courses in comprehensive universities, and in graduate schools of education. 26
Special education departments are established in two national universities and six private universities.10
Teachers responsible for the education of children with special educational needs are trained to the level of education which they are expecting to teach. That is, those wishing to teach children with special educational needs in elementary school education take courses suitable for elementary education and those who want to be secondary school special needs teachers pursue courses qualifying them to teach at that level. 28
7.5.2.1 Admissions
Special school teachers are recruited through a qualifying exam for special education or through supplementary in-service training for teachers. See section 7.2.2.1. of the mainstream archive in addition. 10
7.5.3 Trainers
See section 7.2.3. of the mainstream archive.
7.5.4 Curriculum for initial teacher training
See sections 7.2.4. and 7.3.4. of the mainstream archive.
7.5.5 Qualifications and standards
7.5.5.1 Qualifications and entitlement
University graduates and graduate school graduates who major in special education qualify as special school teachers. See section 7.2.5.1. or 7.3.5.1. of the mainstream archive in addition. 10
7.5.5.2 Probationary periods
There are no probationary periods for teachers in Korean schools.
7.5.6 Post-qualification induction periods
See sections 7.2.6. and 7.3.6. of the mainstream archive.
