A government plan seeks to restructure the public university system under which three or more schools will be merged into one.

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry says it has finalized a restructuring plan for this year to that effect. Draft plans will be collected from each university through September 11th.

The plan aims to induce continuous mergers, especially among three or more public universities, to better accommodate students. The country's low birth rate is leading to a shortage of students.

Three or more schools in the same region will create a single decision-making body to diversify campuses and form a unified entity in three years.

Schools with such reform in mind can apply. The government will review their plans and decide on them by year's end.