Public Technical High Schools, Expansion of Fee Exemption

30 percent of public technical high school students, 95,000 of them, will enjoy the privilege of fee exemption from this year to 2004, in order to stimulate the depressed technical schools.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development decided to increase the number of students with the exemption of tuition and admission fees annually from last year’s 15 percent up to 20 percent this year, 25 percent next year, 30 percent in the year 2004. It also announced legislation for `amendment of regulations for school tuition and admission fees`.

From last April, all of national school students and 15 percent (47,550 persons) of public school students among 759 nationwide technical high schools are exempted from paying fees.

When the exemption increases to 20 percent from March, 63,400 students of public technical high schools will receive the benefit, and the number will increase to 79,250 next year and to 95,100 in 2004. A total of 395,000 to 1.04 million won will be exempted per person annually.

The ones to enjoy the exemption will be decided according to each school and district education department`s standards, including academic excellence, various competitions, and good conducts.

inchul@donga.com