[Opinion] Special High Schools

There exist many parents who face a dilemma of sending their children to a special high school or a normal high school. This is because of the competition associated with university acceptance. This decision could decide whether their child enters a university or not within three years time. Parents seem uninterested in the fact that the special high schools are able to educate in foreign languages or elite scientific training. They only care which one provides a higher percentage for acceptance into renowned universities.

Local self-governing authorities try to promote special high schools. To them, special high schools mean “distinguished” high schools. Their opinion is that to upgrade the educational standard and regional development, they have to possess a renowned school in their region. The biggest reason for leaving the rural area is children’s education and even the city’s inhabitants are not satisfied with public education. Therefore, parents send their children abroad early to study, or chose to emigrate. Local self-governing authorities’ decision to strengthen educational services is highly welcomed. Present special high school’s reputations are perplexing, however. Although it is clear that special high schools are not distinguished ones, they are thought to be in today’s society, and it is also not educational to teach students so.

Special high school graduates are put in an obscure position when competing to enter universities. This is due to the default of the high school equalization system, which assumes that every high school in Korea posses the same standard of education. Special high school graduates, who consist of excellent students, inevitably have to take in the bad test results. There are occasions where although they received good marks in Sunung, because of their low test rank, they fail to enter the university of their choice. Sunung cannot be the absolute criteria for distinguishing superior students, but students who everyone accepts as elites but failing, are unfair in the skills competition system.

As Seoul National University increased its Sunung percentage, special high school graduates seem to enter more. Following this, it is speculated that the demand for special high schools will increase, and thus the criticism that this is against the schools original aim will increase. Parents’ desire of wanting their children to study in a good environment is rational. The government needs to help straighten out the ironic middle and high school education atmosphere. What is the best way to accomplish this? Provide students with the right to choose their own school.

Editorial writer Hong Chan-sik chansik@donga.com