Measures Unveiled for Cutting Down Rising Spending on Private Education

Private Education Will Not Disappear--

Parents and students living in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where a number of costly private academies are concentrated, are skeptical over new educational measures, saying the plans would do little to prevent students from relying more on private tutoring.

“If education programs available through television or online are introduced, another private institute would spring up to teach those programs,” said a high school student, only identified by her surname Han and living in Gangnam-gu.

“I do not expect those programs available through satellite TV or internet would match each student’s ability. Those programs might be helpful but only when students attend private academies or hire private tutors,” said a mother of middle school student.

A significant number of students and parents living in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, or in the country, however, seem to place hopes for new measures. But most of them, who have gone through a series of educational policies’ failures, said they will see what happens.

A mother whose child attends middle school said that our education system has been so inconsistent that parents do not trust the public education system, having them rely more on private education.

Private academies are also doubtful about the possible efficiency of the plan, saying those in high-income brackets would not stop their spending on private tutoring. Instead, they would be willing to pay more on private education to become more differentiated and receive a better education.

As for giving a wider choice of high schools to attend for prospective students, Kim Jung-sook, a manager of Busan branch office of parents association, said she welcomes the plan, but it remains to be seen whether parents will support for different levels of classes based on students’ scholastic performance.

With regard to the increasing ratio of academic records in high school when applicants are evaluated, Park Sung-soo of the admissions committee in Sung Kyun Kwan University said it will take some time before making decisions since each high school has different levels of academic performance, making it hard to apply same criteria for each school.

Teachers’ Authority in Shaky State--

Parents hailed the decision to allow parents to be involved in assessing teachers, while teachers and Korea Federation of Teachers’ Association are enraged, saying it would force teachers to act like private tutors.

“I am fully behind the idea that parents should be involved in evaluating teachers. It is right for education consumers to participate in the assessment process,” said a mother whose child attends a high school.

“New measures will deal a heavy blow to the morale of teachers who have offered character education as well, lowering the education quality,” said Han Jae-kap, spokesman for the Korea Federation of Teachers’ Association.

“The plans will only worsen the situation since there is no sincere effort to ease fierce competition among students,” said Song Won-jae, spokesman for the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union.

“The plans will pave the way for all-out competition for education,” said Kim Jung-moon, assistant principal in Ewha Girls’ High School, adding, “It is doubtful that parents assess teachers on a fair foundation.”

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