Education System in Korea

GLOBALISATION IN EDUCATION

EDUCATION IN KOREA

SOCIAL STUDIES IIIWEEK 9

Prepared by: Miss Ima Izzati Ismail

Introduction

There is an old saying in Korea:

"One should not step even on the shadow of one's teacher."

This proverb relays the degree of respect traditionally accorded to teachers.

While there have been many changes to the Korean educational system since its adoption of modern teaching methods, much of the old tradition remains.

Education in Ancient Korea

According to ancient history texts, formal education in Korea began during the Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C.-A.D.668) under the influence of the Chinese educational system.

The institutionalization of the civil service examination in the mid-10th century set the pattern for educational reform, by directing the role of education toward preparing young men for public service.

Examinations in the Chinese classics were the major criteria for qualification and this tradition has survived as the backbone of Korean education system until the late 19th century, when Korea opened its door to the West.

http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/education.htm

Advent of Modern Schools

Korea actually experienced the budding of a strong movement for modernization in the late 17th to 18th century.

A group of young scholars came together to search for practical ways to utilize academic knowledge for the purpose of modernizing the country.

Their scholarship and thought became known as sirhak or "Practical Learning."

Korean School System

The school system in Korea follows a 6-3-3-4 ladder pattern which consists of:

Elementary education elementary school (1st to 6th grades) to children between the ages

of 6 and 11.

Secondary education middle school (7th to 9th grades) to those aged 12 to 14. high school (10th to 12th grades) to students aged 15 to 17.

Higher education junior college, college or university.

Preschool Education

Preschool education is not included in the formal school system.

However, its importance justifies attention in relation to the formal school system.

Kindergarten is the main facility for preschool education in Korea.

The curricula consist of five life areas: physical, social, expression, language and inquiry life areas.

Elementary Education

Elementary education for children was not made compulsory until 1953 because of the post-Korean War rehabilitation effort.

The Constitution stipulates in Article 31 that it is the responsibility of all parents and guardians to ensure an elementary school education for their children aged 6 to 11 and that this education is free.

Article 93 of the Education Act states that the goal of elementary school education is to teach the fundamentals necessary for a productive civic life.

Elementary Education

In order to fulfil this objective, the basic curricula for elementary school education are divided into nine principal subjects:

1. moral education

2. Korean language

3. social studies

4. arithmetic

5. natural science

6. physical education

7. music

8. fine arts

9. and the practical arts.

However, subject matters in grade 1 and 2 are integrated in “disciplined life”, “intelligent life” and “pleasant life.”

Lower Secondary Education

Lower secondary (middle) school level

Upon completing elementary school, children between the ages of 12-14 are allowed to enter middle school for the 7th to 9th grade courses.

The middle school curricula are composed of 11 basic or required subjects, elective subjects and extra curricula activities.

Technical and vocational courses are included in the elective subjects to ensure the productive relationship between education and occupation.

Higher Secondary Education

Higher secondary (high) school level

Middle school graduates (aged 15 to 17) or those with equivalent academic background may enter high schools.

The period of study is three years (10th to 12th grades) and students bear the expenses of the education.

High school education aims at providing advanced general and specific education on the basis of middle school education.

Ways of selecting students for admission, including the recent taking into account of the so-called "school activities records" where the three-year life of the middle school students is recorded. (According to the revision of the Education Act of May 31, 1995)

Higher Secondary Education

Higher secondary (high) school level

Through the introduction of these individualized standards for school admission, small-sized specialized high schools in areas such as music, the arts as well as math and science have been and will continue to be established.

For those students returning home from abroad into domestic schools, international school will be also established.

And after 1998, "private high schools" that can be sustained with finances from their own resources will be given the right to select students as well as to decide tuition payments.

Higher Education

There are four categories of institutions for higher learning:

colleges and universities with four-year undergraduate programs (six-year in medical colleges)

junior colleges

universities of education and colleges of education

miscellaneous schools like theological colleges and seminaries.

Higher Education

About 80 percent of all Korean institutes of higher education are private.

In accordance with the Education Act and the relevant presidential and ministerial decrees, all institutes of higher education, whether public or private, come under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry has control over such matters as student quotas, qualifications of teaching staff, curricula, degree requirements, and so on.

Issues related to…

• http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/03/113_83117.html

For more information

Further your reading for a better understanding on Korean education system.

Suggested links were listed below http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/education.htm

http://thegrandnarrative.com/2007/07/03/the-korean-education-system-and-its-consequences-for-adults-intro-part-1/

http://www.rjkoehler.com/2009/03/12/obama-praises-korean-education-system/