ID :
53063
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53063
The shortlink copeid
Elementary, middle schools hold standardized exam amid protest
SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- Elementary and middle school students across the nation on Tuesday took a fiercely controversial standardized exam amid boycotts by some teachers and students over the test.
The exam, aimed at assessing general scholastic ability, began at 9 a.m for
fourth to ninth-grade students throughout 16 provinces and cities. The
five-subject exam covers Korean, English, math, science and civics and is
supervised by regional educational offices.
Teachers' unions and parent groups have opposed the testing, arguing that the
results could be used to rank schools, lead to fiercer competition and further
burden students already struggling to balance an overwhelming academic load.
Students were tested on what they learned the previous year, with the results
meant to be used by officials in establishing supplementary programs for students
with weaker learning abilities. The decision to conduct the exam, which was not
state-enforced, was made unanimously by all educational offices throughout the
country.
Students will be notified next month whether they have "achieved" or
"underachieved" scholastically in each subject. The exam was originally slated to
be held early this month but was delayed due to a score-rigging scandal of a
separate state-administered assessment exam held late last year.
Education remains an issue of fiery debate in South Korea, where many believe
that one's schooling largely dictates his or her success and where discrimination
based on academic background is seen as commonplace.
Some 1,400 students and parents throughout the country have signed up for field
trips to boycott the exam, according to the National Association of Parents for
Cham-Education, a nation-wide parent group.
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union disclosed the names of its 122
Seoul-based members who sent leaflets to parents encouraging them to boycott and
calling for the abolishment of the test. The members participated knowing that
they may be fired, according to the union.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said that it plans to strictly punish
teachers that are later confirmed to have obstructed the testing process.
In October, Seoul education authorities reprimanded seven teachers, all of them
members of the union, who organized field trips to boycott the state-enforced
exam held that month. Some were later fired.
The exam, aimed at assessing general scholastic ability, began at 9 a.m for
fourth to ninth-grade students throughout 16 provinces and cities. The
five-subject exam covers Korean, English, math, science and civics and is
supervised by regional educational offices.
Teachers' unions and parent groups have opposed the testing, arguing that the
results could be used to rank schools, lead to fiercer competition and further
burden students already struggling to balance an overwhelming academic load.
Students were tested on what they learned the previous year, with the results
meant to be used by officials in establishing supplementary programs for students
with weaker learning abilities. The decision to conduct the exam, which was not
state-enforced, was made unanimously by all educational offices throughout the
country.
Students will be notified next month whether they have "achieved" or
"underachieved" scholastically in each subject. The exam was originally slated to
be held early this month but was delayed due to a score-rigging scandal of a
separate state-administered assessment exam held late last year.
Education remains an issue of fiery debate in South Korea, where many believe
that one's schooling largely dictates his or her success and where discrimination
based on academic background is seen as commonplace.
Some 1,400 students and parents throughout the country have signed up for field
trips to boycott the exam, according to the National Association of Parents for
Cham-Education, a nation-wide parent group.
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union disclosed the names of its 122
Seoul-based members who sent leaflets to parents encouraging them to boycott and
calling for the abolishment of the test. The members participated knowing that
they may be fired, according to the union.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said that it plans to strictly punish
teachers that are later confirmed to have obstructed the testing process.
In October, Seoul education authorities reprimanded seven teachers, all of them
members of the union, who organized field trips to boycott the state-enforced
exam held that month. Some were later fired.
