Tuesday, April 6, 2010
2:25 AM | 
Posted by
FUSION
Additional Educational Problems and Issues in Korea
I think now is the good time to talk about some different issues involved in other educational problems in Korea not only students but also faculty, society and parents. As you know, 11th and 12th grade of high school in Korea is like an invisible life for most students in order to enter high level private college, not for scholarship but just for admission. For those two years, these students get up at 6 in the morning and come back home at 2 in the morning with additional studies in private academies. Can you guys imagine that? 4 hours of sleep every day, and during exams, they cannot sleep at all. I was lucky living in Guatemala during my high school years. Because of this harsh educational environment during their high school years, one of the main problems that happens is that those students whose parents are in high class level, tend to pay large amount of money to the teachers and even those who are in charge of university entrance exams. Since teachers are the center of education in Korea, after receiving illegal payments, teachers steal real exams and study the exact same material with those students as it appears to be completely normal which is not. Another main issue is that there is still huge discrimination among rich and poor in Korea (especially teachers who discriminate students); some teachers are very income and money oriented caring and helping only those students that live in high class environment.
As I mentioned before, Korea is the number one or the largest private tutoring market and academies. This is also a major issue to students because it is causing large expense on household financial conditions. People in Korea tend to search for specific geographical areas where strong private tutoring market is held with strong educational background; therefore, high-income families are gathered in specific region where famous academies are surrounded increasing even more the gap between rich and poor. One thing that is very different from US culture or other cultures in Central America is that Korean Parents are so much more obsessed with their children education: exams prove everything, and competitive admission in only few prestigious universities located in Seoul, the capital city of Korea, which “guarantees” high social status, easy and rich life, stabilized financial status, and recognition. Also Korean specialty is only looking at the legal and official documents from a student. Something that can prove high level education is everything when recruiting for most small firms. This is why if someone is a graduate student from a famous and highly recognized university in Seoul, most of the company would hire this person. Additionally, let me give you a real story of a friend of mine. Koreans love to do meetings, but meetings meaning with 3 men vs 3 women in the opposite side of the table where people talk each other, choose the favorite opposite sex and go somewhere else for a date. What 90% of women ask to the men in the first meeting is what university he is currently attending. No matter how high is the GPA, these girls are only interested in the level of University. Anyone from any university should have the same opportunity and recognition from others.
I think now is the good time to talk about some different issues involved in other educational problems in Korea not only students but also faculty, society and parents. As you know, 11th and 12th grade of high school in Korea is like an invisible life for most students in order to enter high level private college, not for scholarship but just for admission. For those two years, these students get up at 6 in the morning and come back home at 2 in the morning with additional studies in private academies. Can you guys imagine that? 4 hours of sleep every day, and during exams, they cannot sleep at all. I was lucky living in Guatemala during my high school years. Because of this harsh educational environment during their high school years, one of the main problems that happens is that those students whose parents are in high class level, tend to pay large amount of money to the teachers and even those who are in charge of university entrance exams. Since teachers are the center of education in Korea, after receiving illegal payments, teachers steal real exams and study the exact same material with those students as it appears to be completely normal which is not. Another main issue is that there is still huge discrimination among rich and poor in Korea (especially teachers who discriminate students); some teachers are very income and money oriented caring and helping only those students that live in high class environment.
As I mentioned before, Korea is the number one or the largest private tutoring market and academies. This is also a major issue to students because it is causing large expense on household financial conditions. People in Korea tend to search for specific geographical areas where strong private tutoring market is held with strong educational background; therefore, high-income families are gathered in specific region where famous academies are surrounded increasing even more the gap between rich and poor. One thing that is very different from US culture or other cultures in Central America is that Korean Parents are so much more obsessed with their children education: exams prove everything, and competitive admission in only few prestigious universities located in Seoul, the capital city of Korea, which “guarantees” high social status, easy and rich life, stabilized financial status, and recognition. Also Korean specialty is only looking at the legal and official documents from a student. Something that can prove high level education is everything when recruiting for most small firms. This is why if someone is a graduate student from a famous and highly recognized university in Seoul, most of the company would hire this person. Additionally, let me give you a real story of a friend of mine. Koreans love to do meetings, but meetings meaning with 3 men vs 3 women in the opposite side of the table where people talk each other, choose the favorite opposite sex and go somewhere else for a date. What 90% of women ask to the men in the first meeting is what university he is currently attending. No matter how high is the GPA, these girls are only interested in the level of University. Anyone from any university should have the same opportunity and recognition from others.
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About Me
- FUSION
- I am a Korean, but grown up in Guatemala; therefore, I have seen important and sometimes harsh educational issues on various ethnical groups. I think it is very important for everyone to learn and think more about how different learning methods and problems affects society and economy as a whole.
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