More High School Science, History

Starting in the year 2011 when students currently in fifth grade enter high school, the time allotted for science and history classes will be increased by one hour for first year high school students.

Second and third year students will be able to take necessary classes such as “Comprehensive Essay Writing” and “English Essay Writing” aside from regular elective courses, within 10 percent of the total credits required, according to the decisions of the individual schools.

Ethics, music, and art classes can be taken intensively in one semester instead of the current one hour per week. This change will be left to the discretion of the principals of the schools.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development held a public hearing on December 12 at the Appeal Commission for Teachers auditorium, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul regarding the “Seventh Primary and Secondary Curriculum Outline Reform” and announced this revised bill.

What will be Changed –

The Ministry decided to increase science class hours from three hours to four hours per week, and Korean History and World History, which are currently incorporated into the subject of social studies, will be separated as a new “history” subject, and the time allotted will be increased from two to three hours per week.

In the case of second and third year high school students, the distinction between general electives and intensive electives will vanish. Also, following the segmentation of subject categories, students will be required to take at least one or two subjects from each category, which will keep them from taking only classes that are advantageous for college entrance examinations.

The current five categories of △Humanities and Social Studies (Language Arts, Ethics, Social Studies), △Science and Technology (Mathematics, Science, Technology, Home Economics), △Physical Education and the Arts (Physical Education, Music, Art), △Foreign Language and General Education (Chinese Characters, Drill, Culture) will be divided into the seven categories of △Language Arts, Ethics, Social Studies, △Mathematics, Science △Technology, Home Economics, △Physical Education, △Music, Art, △Foreign Language, △General Education.

Essay writing will also be emphasized, with writing-related contents reflected in elementary and middle school curriculums, and the addition of an essay writing chapter to the composition subject, an elective subject in high school Language Arts.

This revised bill will be applied in stages from 2009 after being reviewed by the Curriculum Counsel.

Controversy Regarding Physical Education and Arts Evaluation Methods –

At the public hearing, claims were made that the Ministry is reviewing plans to change the evaluation methods of Ethics, Music, Art, and Physical Education subjects from the current grade method to a pass/fail method or a three level grading scale.

Regarding this issue, the Ministry answered that they have not decided on such evaluation methods.

crystal@donga.com