Middles school tests will be phased out

Beginning next year, middle school students in Seoul no longer will be required to take midterm examinations and finals or worry about grades.

"In order to transform the schools into ones where all-around education stresses freedom and character-building, we will expand the test-free performance evaluation at elementary schools into middle schools," You In-Jong, awaiting inauguration ceremony as the 15th Superintendent of Education in Seoul said in an exclusive interview with the vernacular Dong-a Ilbo on August 15. "The test-free performance evaluation will be expanded in stages with the middle school first grade next year, first and second grade by 2002, and all middle school students by 2003. We will effectively shelve the multiple-choice-based midterms and final examinations."

The performance evaluation is a year-round evaluation method that takes into consideration daily performance such as homework, class assignments, participation, problem solving and achievement. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will provide a new "descriptive" grading system based on daily study habits and records, instead of the current numerical or alphabetic systems.

Lee Jin-Yeong ecolee@donga.com