ID :
40665
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 16:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/40665
The shortlink copeid
Seoul schools to highlight security, sovereignty in inter-Korean study material
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- Seoul schools will adjust the way they teach inter-Korean relations from an emphasis on reconciliatory understanding between South and North Korea to stressing the importance of national security, city education officials said Wednesday.
The announcement by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) comes amid
increasing calls to revise history and civics materials to reflect a more
"balanced" perspective since the inauguration of the conservative administration
last year.
The office also said it plans to supplement its history materials and programs to
increase awareness of the country's territorial and historical sovereignty,
including ib Dokdo, a set of islets Japan has repeatedly laid claim to.
The SMOE said it plans to earmark some 50 million won (US$37,200) to revise
education materials on history and inter-Korean relations to boost security
awareness among students.
Critics of the changes, however, say they are concerned that the shift in
emphasis could result in a propaganda-oriented approach of the Cold War period.
"I'm worried that our education system may return to that of the anti-communist
era," said Park Chan-seok, an education professor at Gongju National University
of Education.
The two Koreas technically remain at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended only
with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Curricula covering relations between the
two Koreas had begun to cast a more reconciliatory light since the inter-Korean
summit in 2000 under then President Kim Dae-jung.
The office said it will decide whether to write a new version of the texts to be
used in elementary and middle schools or purchase those already published by
private companies.
Future field trip destinations will include more security-related areas, such as
the demilitarized zone and famous battle sites during the Korean War, whereas
previous excursions were to sites as North Korea's famed Mount Kumgang.
The SMOE said it is also preparing school trips to Dokdo, a group of South
Korean-controlled islets in the East Sea. Japanese claims to the islets is a
source of diplomatic friction between the two countries.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
The announcement by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) comes amid
increasing calls to revise history and civics materials to reflect a more
"balanced" perspective since the inauguration of the conservative administration
last year.
The office also said it plans to supplement its history materials and programs to
increase awareness of the country's territorial and historical sovereignty,
including ib Dokdo, a set of islets Japan has repeatedly laid claim to.
The SMOE said it plans to earmark some 50 million won (US$37,200) to revise
education materials on history and inter-Korean relations to boost security
awareness among students.
Critics of the changes, however, say they are concerned that the shift in
emphasis could result in a propaganda-oriented approach of the Cold War period.
"I'm worried that our education system may return to that of the anti-communist
era," said Park Chan-seok, an education professor at Gongju National University
of Education.
The two Koreas technically remain at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended only
with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Curricula covering relations between the
two Koreas had begun to cast a more reconciliatory light since the inter-Korean
summit in 2000 under then President Kim Dae-jung.
The office said it will decide whether to write a new version of the texts to be
used in elementary and middle schools or purchase those already published by
private companies.
Future field trip destinations will include more security-related areas, such as
the demilitarized zone and famous battle sites during the Korean War, whereas
previous excursions were to sites as North Korea's famed Mount Kumgang.
The SMOE said it is also preparing school trips to Dokdo, a group of South
Korean-controlled islets in the East Sea. Japanese claims to the islets is a
source of diplomatic friction between the two countries.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
