The construction of the *special education school (SES) attached to Pusan National University (PNU) has been confirmed, which has been expected a lot. 

At the deliberation held on February 23rd, Busan City Planning Commission approved the suggestion to change the parking area in PNU into the **art special education school (ASES) the establishment of which is expected to speed up from now on. 

PNU’s SES was one of government tasks in 2018 and building an agreement in March 2020. The purposes of this construction are to use various educational facilities such as PNU’s college of education and college of art, and its infrastructure to start many different programs connected with Geumjung Mountain, and to allow students and citizens to coexist and rest in the forest. Moreover, PNU’s ASES is the first special school attached to the national university that gives arts education to students with disabilities systemically. Also, it is very meaningful as the second national special education school to be established in the world. 

ASES had difficulty getting construction permission. At very first, the worries of the environmental group about destroying the Geumjung forest bogged down the construction plan. However, they reached a deal after the construction moved the area to the grand stadium to protect the tree community and environment. In addition, the space design was selected through a public contest, and the design was approved by the environmental group. 

One more hardship was about to stop the plan. When PNU applied for a permission to change the green load land set to a build land set, the city added another deal that did not have anything to do with ASES. Its deal was that PNU had to support the establishment of Geumsam-ro.

PNU’s ASES will be the secondary art school attached to the college of education, which can educate 138 students with disabilities. Do Woo-Kyung, the representative of Pusan Parents Society for the Disabled, highlighted the necessity of a special education art school. Representative Do said, “There are many students with disabilities who are very talented in arts. The school is essential for them to receive professional education and live as cultural and artistic workers in the Busan community.” 

*Special education school (SES) : A school for the practice of educating students in a way that provides accommodations that address their individual differences, disabilities, and special needs.

**Art special education school (ASES) : Special education school that teaches artistic subjects.

By Lee Yoon-Seo, Desk Editor

Translated by Yun Chae-Eun, Reporter