A meister high school specializing in overseas engineering and construction education will open in 2015, officials said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is to sign a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with the International Contractors’ Association of Korea and the Seoul Urban Science Technical High School, officials said Wednesday.

The students will be provided with technical education, as well as language courses, and upon graduation will be given the opportunity to work in overseas construction sites, especially in industrial plant construction.

“The students will acquire the necessary technical, linguistic and cultural skills required in actual construction fields,” said a ministry official.

“This new education system will not only lower the unemployment rate of high school graduates but also provide companies with professional manpower.”

The ministry will also operate a special training session for the teaching staff and establish an advisory panel consisting of education and industry experts, officials said.

Meister high schools are elite vocational schools, promoted under the former Lee Myung-bak administration to alleviate unemployment and address education inflation. There are currently 35 meister high schools operating in Korea.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)