Korean Education
Educational System
Education is very important in Korea and it is highly valued by everyone. In general, it takes 9 to 12 years to graduate. Most students attend pre-school or kindergarten before they enter primary school. There are six years of primary school, followed by three years of junior high or middle school. The majority of teachers at the primary level are female, while most of the secondary teachers are male. Students learn science, math, history, Korean, and a foreign language. English is taught starting in the third grade of primary school. Some middle schools specialize in agriculture, engineering, technology, or commerce. Korea was the first country to provide every classroom with high-speed internet access. Three years of high school are available for students wishing to further their education. Although high school is optional, 97% of Korean students decide to attend. To get into a good high school, students must pass a very competitive entrance examination. We know that we are expected to do well in school, and we feel a lot of pressure to live up to that expectation. Korean parents spend a lot of money, sometimes half of their yearly income, to send their children to hagwon, private academic schools that prepare students for the national university entrance examination. A student’s future is totally dependent on his or her grade on that exam. In fact, the stress is so great that it contributes to a high teen suicide rate in South Korea.
School Day
Students at private elementary schools wear uniforms, but those who attend public schools usually do not. In the middle and high schools, all students must wear uniforms. Middle school students go to school an average of five hours a day. However, the typical Korean high school student spends at least twelve hours a day studying, either in school or at after-school academies. In fact, it is not unusual to study for 18 hours in one day. After attending school for a full day, most high school students then go to a private academy for extra help. There is an emphasis on building vocabulary. This focus on education pays off, as 98% of Koreans are literate.
Student-Teacher Relationship
Students have to be respectful to their teachers. When teachers enter the room, students must stand up and bow. Korean students usually do not look their teachers in the eye. Teachers can use corporal punishment against students. Students who act disrespectfully, fail to do homework, or show up late may be yelled at, hit with a stick, slapped on the hands, pinched on the cheeks, or forced to stand in the corner “reaching for air.” We accept this as part of the school routine, but we try to avoid it at all costs.
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