Korea expands special education in 2010

Compulsory education for children with disabilities, which currently only applies to elementary and middle school, will be extended to include kindergarten and high school in 2010, the South Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said May 25, according to Chosunilbo.

In 2011 and 2012, children aged 4 and 3 will be able to enter special education classes.

The Ministry said education authorities will carry out disability tests from time to time so that children with disabilities can be detected early and enter education programs.

"Before the new law, it was the parents’ responsibility to detect any disability in their children and find and pay for the right education facility," Chosunilbo reports. "Also, parents had to pay for the entire cost of special education for disabled children under three, and the government only partially funded the cost of regular education."