South Korea is to stop asking “killer questions” on notoriously competitive college entrance exams in an effort to make them more fair.
The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation — the agency that creates and administers the annual test — would cut the infamous questions that are tough to answer and often not covered at public schools, the South Korean Ministry of Education said on Monday.
Each year, about 350,000 South Korean high-school students take these tests. So-called “killer questions” often favor those whose families can afford expensive and time-consuming private cram schools.
“Including questions that are not covered in the public-school curriculum for the college entrance exam is no different than pushing students into private education,” South Korean Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, who is also a deputy prime minister, said in a meeting with ruling party officials.
Under the current system, only private cram schools are making profit, while students, parents and public-school teachers are suffering, Lee said.
The new guidance, which comes into effect this year, adds to broader debate globally about inequality in the education system. The issue is particularly acute in South Korea, where attending a prestigious university is an avenue for landing a career at one of the country’s handful of conglomerate employers.
South Korean high-school students often take at least three intensive courses outside of regular full-day classes, including math, Korean and English. As so-called “killer questions” emerged in entrance exams over the past few years, students soon flocked to cram schools that provide sample questions and mock tests to prepare them.
These private schools have faced increased criticism from lawmakers and teachers groups for their high cost. Some cram schools have already voiced criticism of the government’s new policy, saying the announcement would cause confusion for students taking the exam later this year.
Parents often face little choice, but to use their services so their kids can get an edge in the exams. Total household expenditures on private education for primary, junior-high and high-school students rose 11 percent to 26 trillion won (US$20.2 billion) last year, according to data from Statistics Korea.
IDENTITY: A sex extortion scandal involving Thai monks has deeply shaken public trust in the clergy, with 11 monks implicated in financial misconduct Reverence for the saffron-robed Buddhist monkhood is deeply woven into Thai society, but a sex extortion scandal has besmirched the clergy and left the devout questioning their faith. Thai police this week arrested a woman accused of bedding at least 11 monks in breach of their vows of celibacy, before blackmailing them with thousands of secretly taken photos of their trysts. The monks are said to have paid nearly US$12 million, funneled out of their monasteries, funded by donations from laypeople hoping to increase their merit and prospects for reincarnation. The scandal provoked outrage over hypocrisy in the monkhood, concern that their status
Trinidad and Tobago declared a new state of emergency on Friday after authorities accused a criminal network operating in prisons across the country of plotting to kill key government officials and attack public institutions. It is the second state of emergency to be declared in the twin-island republic in a matter of months. In December last year, authorities took similar action, citing concerns about gang violence. That state of emergency lasted until mid-April. Police said that smuggled cellphones enabled those involved in the plot to exchange encrypted messages. Months of intelligence gathering led investigators to believe the targets included senior police officers,
A disillusioned Japanese electorate feeling the economic pinch goes to the polls today, as a right-wing party promoting a “Japanese first” agenda gains popularity, with fears over foreigners becoming a major election issue. Birthed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic, spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the Sanseito Party has widened its appeal ahead of today’s upper house vote — railing against immigration and dragging rhetoric that was once confined to Japan’s political fringes into the mainstream. Polls show the party might only secure 10 to 15 of the 125 seats up for grabs, but it is
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is to meet US President Donald Trump this week, hoping Manila’s status as a key Asian ally would secure a more favorable trade deal before the deadline on Friday next week. Marcos would be the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump in his second term. Trump has already struck trade deals with two of Manila’s regional partners, Vietnam and Indonesia, driving tough bargains in trade talks even with close allies that Washington needs to keep onside in its strategic rivalry with China. “I expect our discussions to focus on security and defense, of course, but also
RSS