PM Hints at Easing `3 Nos` Education Policy

Prime Minister Chung Un-chan expressed yesterday his willingness to ease the government’s so-called three-no’s policy for education.

The three no’s policy refers to the ban on universities administering their own college entrance exams, the ranking of high schools, and college admissions in exchange for donations.

Chung told an Educational Broadcasting System program, “It’s time to give universities freedom. I will study the ‘three no’s policy.’”

“From now on, universities must have the right to choose their own ways of selecting students and what to teach them. A review of eliminating the policy should be carefully conducted since it has implemented for so long to prevent adverse effects.”

Chung has championed allowing more autonomy in university admissions since he served as president of Seoul National University.

The prime minister, however, opposed donations for university admissions, saying, “Private universities can accept contributions for admissions, but this should not be allowed at public universities.”

On private education, he said, “Private education itself is not wrong,” adding, “Entrance exams for high schools and universities have problems, but private education only teaches students how to avoid giving wrong answers in exams and should be eliminated.”

“Over the short term, we need to eradicate illegal private education. Over the mid to long term, we should adopt a tailored education system that fits the academic abilities of students.”

pen@donga.com