The Education, Science and Technology Ministry will launch a university reform committee next month and start full-fledged university restructuring in the second half of the year.

Education Minister Lee Joo-ho said on Monday that the ministry will form the committee, which will comprise of about 15 government officials and civilian experts, to launch an active restructuring of the educational institutions.

Under the plan, 50 private colleges subject to the government’s restriction in their student loans, as well as 13 private colleges which are under the government’s supervision due to poor management, are likely to be subject to a restructuring or a shutdown.

The government will also select the lowest-performing 15 percent state and national universities and cut their student body by five to 20 percent.