(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Oct. 27) - Elite schools under fire

Should foreign language high schools be maintained or abolished?

This question cropped up once again after some lawmakers openly wondered about
the value of such institutions, claiming they contribute heavily to skyrocketing
costs tied to private education as families look to give their kids an edge ahead
of college.
The debate intensified a few days ago, when Grand National Party member Chung
Doo-un said, ???Should [the government???s] education measures [and policies] be
unsatisfactory, the [education] minister should resign.???
It is true that prominent political leaders and our society as a whole should
discuss the problems surrounding Korea???s educational system today.
But there are valid concerns that the debate is going nowhere fast.
It isn???t right to discuss educational reform without taking into consideration
the needs and wants of students and parents, who are having a tough time adapting
because of constant changes to the country???s education policies whenever a new
administration takes office.
We should in fact ensure that we???re focusing on the long term, not just
immediate solutions.
Part of the problem today is that lawmakers within the Grand National Party have
conflicting views, which makes them look irresponsible and imprudent. It also
seems quite insincere. Take GNP lawmaker Chung, who was the first to introduce a
bill that would abolish foreign language high schools. In three days, the draft
bill he introduced was amended two times.
Of course, the education ministry must address this issue. But what Education
Minister Ahn Byung-man said recently isn???t wrong: ???Foreign language high
schools aren???t a simple matter, so whatever path we take, we must tread
carefully.???
Even though foreign language high schools did indeed help spur parents to invest
more in private education, they have also played a role in nurturing elite
students. That???s why instead of abolishing these schools, we should seek more
rational and practical measures. Some changes should be made to the process for
selecting students, but the spirit of foreign language high schools should be
kept intact. Education issues should be addressed with logic, not with political
populism.
The education ministry should ensure that this does not become an overly
political situation. Instead, it must come up with fundamental solutions.
(END)