The Ill Effects of Academic Sectarianism Will Be Included in Textbooks

In elementary, middle and high school textbooks, the articles examining the ill effects of academic sectarianism will be included. The Ministry of Education and Human Resource announced on the third that the conflicts between the academic sectors are becoming obstacles for healthy education, and accordingly it will propel an active policy to correct this trend.

The ministry will drive a nation-wide campaign for this, publishing related articles in textbooks in order to reform society, which is heavily influenced by the negative effects of academic sectors. The ministry has made a committee and consultant group composed with professionals for this plan. It also laid out ` the plan for liquidating culture of conflicts between academic sectors`.

The consultant body will be composed with professionals in academia, economic circle, and Media Company, and will consult the committee`s plan.

The Ministry is planning to publish a sub textbook such as ` changing society` and distribute it to schools. It will also have three schools from each middle and high school as exemplary schools, and open class for students and parents on ` good perspective on career` and `ill effects of overheated education.`

The ministry said that it would make the sub textbook as main textbook by 2003 if the exemplary schools and the sub textbook were proved to be effective.

The ministry also asked cooperation to the association of businessman for @ employment by the recommendation @ prohibition of the discriminations for local college graduates @ the decrease of the salary gap. The ministry will also ask this to the tripartite committee.

The Ministry of Education will support the civil organization`s movement that aims to liquidate the academic sectarianism, and spread a campaign through `the committee for the second establishment of nation`.

One official said that ``we have not had any concrete plan so far, but we have decided to do this campaign for we think that we should change this culture.``

Lee In-Chul inchul@donga.com