[Focus] Compulsory education to extend to middle school

The government¡¯s decision to implement a compulsory state-funded education system for middle schools in stages starting with first-years next year is of a great significance in terms of both national education history and educational welfare, though it was made somewhat hurriedly by an emergency order by President Kim Dae-Jung.

Background of implementation:

Compulsory education at middle schools first was offered to the then-first-years in some islands and remote villages under the Regulation on the Implementation of Compulsory Education at Middle School in 1985. It was expanded in 1994 to the schools in rural towns, but the full implementation in cities has been delayed due to the lack of budget.

The Ministry of Education (MOE), announcing plans to prevent out-of-school tutoring, or ¡°kwawoe,¡± and to make public education substantial last year, revealed it would put into practice the free education formula beginning in 2004. The decision Thursday advances the implementation for two years.

As a result, Korea will join the ranks of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries in the education sector. Compared to the 9-12 years of compulsory education in OECD nations, Korea, also a member of the rich nations¡¯ club, has offered only six years of free education, but the decision will extend the period to nine years.

The ministry claimed that President Kim was about to announce the decision during his New Year¡¯s news conference a week ago, but postponed the announcement due to a bad social atmosphere caused by the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties and others.

However, it seemed that the decision was made in haste to win public support in that the ministry was in a flurry, preparing for the announcement, after the president handed down the instruction to it.

¡°(The full implementation of compulsory education) was realized by the president¡¯s decision to stabilize the people¡¯s livelihood and improve educational welfare,¡± Education Minister Lee Don-Hee said.

Reduced burdens of parents:

Only 19.5 percent of all middle school students, numbering 1.86 million, have benefited from the compulsory education system, or 363,000 in some islands, remote villages and small rural towns. The measure this time will bring the number of students who will be given free education to 80.6 percent of the total.

The projected compulsory education through middle school means that each student will be exempted from 520,000 won a year in admission fees, school fees and textbook fees.

However, parents will have to pay about 150,000 won a year on average for each student as expenses for school operation, called the school support fee, and lunch.

Taking into consideration that many households are suffering financial difficulties due to the latest ailing economy, it is a big gift that they can save 520,000 won a year.

Disputes over the subjects to benefit:

MOE said that 500,000 first-years in middle school next year will benefit from the measure. However, middle school students who are now exempted from paying school fees at present number as many as 750,000, according to the latest data of the ministry.

They include 358,000 subject to compulsory education, 59,000 from families subject to protection of livelihood, 150,000 from low-income families and 36,000 chosen by their schools.

Students who actually pay school fees at present number 1,089,000, accounting for 363,000 per grade.

The ministry is suspected of attempting to emphasize the favor done to the students by swelling the number of the subjects to benefit.

Lee In-Chol inchul@donga.com