School Entrance Age Guideline Changed

Starting from 2008, the basic date for entering elementary school will be changed from March 1 in the year the child becomes six to January 1 of the same year.

In addition, parents are permitted to decide freely on whether the child will enter school when their child is between five to seven years old.

The change of regulations regarding primary and secondary school education was confirmed at the ministerial conference on regulation reform presided over by Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook at the Central Government Complex in Seoul.

The decision was made based on the continuous complaints of the parents, saying that children born in January or February have a hard time adjusting to school life with the classmates born in the year before them.

Thus, children eligible for entering elementary school in 2008 will be changed from those who are born on March 1, 2001~February 28, 2002 to those born on January 1, 2001~December 31, 2001.

Soo-Jung Shin crystal@donga.com