Eligibility widens at foreigners¡¯ schools

Starting in March next year, students who have lived abroad for more than two years will be eligible to enroll in schools for foreigners in Korea.

The Ministry of Education announced on September4 its Policy Reform of the Foreigners` Schools, which greatly eases the eligibility for Korean students hoping to enroll in foreigners` schools.

The current policy revision lowers the five-year residence abroad requirement to two years abroad and increased the enrollment eligibility of the schools to 20 percent to 30 percent of the Korean student body.

There are 60 foreigners` schools in Korea with a total enrollment capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 students. As such, starting next year, about 2,000 Korean students will be able to attend the schools.

Graduates of foreigners` schools will not receive special consideration toward applications to universities. However, the foreigners` schools offering Korean language and culture curriculum will receive special accreditation, which would allow their graduates to continue to a higher education without having to take college entrance examinations.

Of the 60 schools in operation, there are 38 that are under volunteer management and are not recognized as schools. However, the Ministry of Education has decided to recognize these schools under a "miscellaneous" category, according to the elementary, middle and high school regulations.

Concerning the regulation that allowed only foreigners to establish foreigners` school, the Ministry of Education has relaxed the rule and has made it possible for a Korean national to hire or invite a foreigner for the purpose of establishing a school. In addition, Korean nationals who receive approval by a foreign nation`s educational board will be able to establish a foreigners` school.

Ha Joon-Woo hawoo@donga.com