[Opinion] The Effects of Private Education

“The nobleman and the well-off in the Chosun Dynasty care a lot about their children’s education and consider it very important to hire tutors and teach their children to read. Children here read books all day long sitting on the floor. It’s amazing to see these little young boys understand and explain the materials, which are the basis for their learning.” This is part of a document called “The Record of the Kingdom of Chosun” written by Hendrick Hamel, a Dane who was shipwrecked and visited Korea in the 17th century. If you read this article, you might feel that the educational experience 350 years ago was quite similar to today’s. Korea’s zeal for education originated from a long traditional history, not from the stiff school entrance competition that appeared after independence from Japanese colonial rule.

It is common sense that education originated from private lessons. In western countries, the ruling class and wealthy families invited teachers to their homes to educate their children. In post-industrial society, mass education was needed, so public schools were created to meet the demands of workforce and train children at a national level. However, as public education was established, the size of private education was reduced step-by-step. If so, what would explain the recent increase in private education in many countries? First, it is related to school entrance competition as is found in Korea. The U.S., dubbed “the paradise for public education,” there has been a rise in private lessons in order to help students gain entry into prestigious universities.

Second, it is due to fast-changing “life conditions.” The speed of social change has accelerated and competition is increasingly stiff. People choose to develop themselves by acquiring necessary knowledge and skills in order to obtain faster, more efficient results, rather than relying on public education. One example of this is the enthusiasm for English education in Korea. There should be a distinction between private education for self-development and private education for entering schools.

After the education authorities announced their plan to curb the enormous private education fee, the issue of private education raised many arguments. One issue is whether or not private education is effective. According to some experts, private education is not very effective and it just makes parents—who have children in the 3rd in high schools—increase their spending on private education beyond what is necessary because of their mental unease. Where does this restless mental state come? It originated from the lack of faith in public education and the education authorities. It is putting the responsibility on the wrong person to attack private education, instead of trying to restore the lost credibility of the public education system. A proper response to the private education issue should encourage Korea’s uniquely high educational zeal as a positive drive for nation rather than taking a negative approach toward it.

Editorial Writer Hong Chan-sik, chansik@donga.com