North Korean teachers ordered to cram English for language contest

North Korean teachers in Hamgyong province face mounting pressure to excel in a language contest scheduled for 2026, according to a source. The contest, described as a multilingual competition, will focus on English and has teachers scrambling to prepare. Schools in Chongjin’s Pohang district are set to host the contest on November 15, with teachers already beginning preparations.

The North Hamgyong provincial education bureau initiated the push on October 15, emphasizing the need to raise teaching standards and citing multilingual ability as a basic skill for all educators.

The contest is part of a series of education reforms under Kim Jong Un’s government, which include research-based teaching methods and new elective subjects in senior middle schools. Additionally, the regime has shifted towards practical, hands-on instruction, though many schools lack the necessary equipment. Despite these efforts, teachers in Pohang district are being pushed hard to study foreign languages, often during the morning reading session—a daily gathering at workplaces and schools where they read and discuss articles from Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.

However, most schools have only one or two English teachers, leaving them overwhelmed by the added responsibility of coaching their colleagues. Teachers of other subjects, who rarely use English, also express concern over the sudden requirement. Principals are attempting to manage the situation by encouraging daily study or allocating just 30 minutes for preparation.

Teachers grapple with their frustrations, feeling the demands are piling up without improvements in their pay or living conditions, which remain low due to the state's inadequate salaries. Many rely on side businesses or gifts from parents to make ends meet, making the additional workload and pressure particularly difficult.