Minister promises to build more special needs schools

Education Minister Kim Sang-kon vowed to build 18 new special needs schools in the country over the next five years, Tuesday.

The plan is a major breakthrough for disabled children and their parents, who have long requested more of these schools as regular schools have failed to meet their needs.

The move appears to have gained momentum after a video clip went viral last week showing parents kneeling in front of residents of Gangseo-gu in western Seoul, begging for consent to build a special needs school there.

It was the second public hearing over the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) plan to build the school on land previously occupied by Kongjin Elementary School.

The residents of the district have fiercely opposed it, arguing instead for a traditional medicine hospital as proposed by Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).

“Within one to two seconds after one parent got on her knees, all other parents got out of their chairs and knelt,” Lee Eun-ja, vice chief of the Korean Parents’ Network for People with Disabilities for the district, told The Korea Times. “I was stunned by the scene, but more so when some of the residents swore at the parents, accusing us of putting on a show.”

However after the video clip went viral, over 80,000 people signed a petition in support of the school. And on Tuesday, the minister vowed to build 18 more special needs schools, including ones that have faced similar problems in the process such as residents’ opposition and finding a good location.