Only fifty odd years ago this country was one of the poorest in the world after the Korean War. Nevertheless, in half a century South Korea has managed to completely turn things around. I would argue that the Education system here has played a major role in the country’s turn-around. The Education system of South Korea is not flawless; however I would like to comment on aspects that I believe South Africa could learn from. These aspects include: getting the basics right, instilling a mind-set of learning and using technology better.
1.) The basics are in order
In its simplest form South Korea has functioning classrooms, effective resources and well-trained teachers. Is this not the ideal atmosphere for learning?!
Each classroom is equipped with the most lavish things wrt resources. No fuss about the school exterior-my boys school is filthy and gross, but every classroom is fitted with a flat-screen tv. In my elementary school there is so many resoruces it is almost scary! Books, games, educational workbooks, toys- it is remarkable!
Teaching in Korea is regarded as one of the most respected professions- it is seen as a stable job with a great income! To give one an idea of the demand for teacher positions- my one teacher was the only 1 out of 40 from her class that graduated to be given a position at a public school! The competition is insane! A huge test is written at the end of one's teaching degree and this determines your placement. It is regarded as a highly esteemed position to receive a public school post and new trained teachers are often posted to the most rural areas to build up the systems there. Teachers are awarded points on a point system according to conferences attended and extra training completed-this allows them to eventually move into cities. Teachers are also rotated every 3 years and one is required to go where the department places you! A great deal of admin for the Education department, but it ensures the level of Education remains high througout the country regardless if you are in the middle of no-where!
The wonderfully privileged schools I attended were the same in some regard (minus the flat screen tvs)-it had all these things. However, the current situation in disadvantaged communities remains tragic in South Africa. A system where classrooms are not always functional, resources are badly managed or ineffectively used and teachers are ill-equipped for dealing with curriculum and educating. The Education system needs to build upon or enhance these basic structures, if a lasting effect is to be maintained. What this translates into practically is the question?
- Our schools need revamps or at least the basics-chairs, tables and books
- Teaching training and status needs drastic improvement. Increased numbers is a neccesity!
- More teacher support with admin to ensure our curriculum and teaching is the teacher's main priority.
2.) A mind-set focused on learning
South Korea has a nation-wide mentality that Education is the only way to lead a successful life-to the point of obsession in my opinion. However, it is this obsession that drives students to work hard, puts pressure on schools and teachers to perform and ensures parents are an active part of their children’s learning.
Now, instilling such a mindset in South Africa is difficult when the outcome of 12 years of education does not necessarily mean employment, let alone a better life.
But, I do believe we need stay positive and encourage learning whenever possible. We need to get serious about giving tertiary education advice. Parents need to somehow be included more in our processes.
3.) Technology
Being in South Korea where every classroom has a flat screen TV and every street has a wireless connection, it is evident that technology plays a major role in learning. Students receive a message from the goverment every morning promoting "kindness or love for your family" (rather Mao-like, I know, but still effective). They are taught by foreigners over conference calls, teachers exchange materials and resources over the internet, and lessons are filled with real life examples as one can explain something using a You-Tube video at the touch of a button.
Now, this all may seem far away from our South African circumstances, however I think the lesson is important: “technology can revolutionize the way we teach and it enables us to work smarter rather than harder”. The trick is accessing the skilled individuals and costly equipment to make it happen. Just imagine a former model C school in Bishops conducts a lesson from their classroom and it broadcasts to 20, or 50 schools across Cape Town during school hours or having curriculum online that is printable and ready to use, or students register online from computer centres to improve their English on the numerous websites available out there. We need to be able to embrace technology and look how it can be used to our advantage.
BAD
I don't think there is an ideal education system in this world, nor will there ever be one, but I think it is important to take note of what is working and what more importantly is not working. I believe here are some shortfalls of the current ROK system.
1. More education is better!
There is a strange belief that more education means better- as if quality denotes quantity. One only needs to walk around any urban neighbourhood to realise this, as every street corner is littered with hagwons-aka after-school academies. As if school from 8:30 to 3:30 and after school classes at school from 5:30 to 7:30 isn't enough, then there are these institutions which are the dread of Korean children's lives and the reason for holes in Korean parents's pockets. They operate at ungoldy hours from early sessions in the morning before school to late night classes until 11pm sometimes midnight. They are privately run and and intended to supplement usual school classes. However, as the govermnet is realising these institutions are beginning to jeopardize and undermine the public schooling system. Why? Because public school is free up until middle school for all Korean students, but parents pay for Hagwons (exorbetant costs I may add- at least 100 000 won (R800) per student per month per subject-that means some parents pay 300 000won (R2400) if kids are doing maths, Korean and English. It gets really bad if you are living in Seoul apparently and some parents pay up to 2million won a month per high school child-thats R16000 a month). The pressure on students and the hagwon teachers is ridiculous as parents want to see results. The only result I am able to observe in my classes are exhausted students. All they want to do is sleep! And can I really blame them, when they are studying over 10 hours a day? What baffles me, is that the work done in hagwons is not to extension for bright students but rather more and more repetition of classwork until I am certain you could stop any child in the street and say "how are you?" and they would respond "So-so" (this believe it or not is a phrase in the textbook). This emphasis on rote-memory learning leads to my second point.
2. A lack of creativity
I worry so often about my students, as I feel the creativity is sucked from their souls, as the countless words and phrases are drummed into them. So many people are against the South African system of OBE that aims at reaching certain objectives rather than knowing lots of stuff and being unable to apply it. The Korean system demonstrates this. I was walking home and passed a group of my students yesterday. I always encourage them to speak English to me and so I asked : "Where are you going?" to which the brightest girl responded " I am from Sindong Elementary school." This is great, except she clearly had misunderstood me, as her brain registered where and immediately reminded her of the sentence " where do you go to school?" and so without comprehending this difference she confidently responded in parrot fashion! The most surprising is my animation students which are clearly quite talented and creative kids, but when asked to think out of the box they panic and don't know what to do! Once they catch on, they love it and so making superheroes, monsters and Halloween characters has really entertained them, as I left it up to their imaginations. There needs to be a culture where creativity is encouraged. As Einstein said: "I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.Imagination is more important than knowledge.Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. "
2. Being a scholar is the only way
I heard recently that an E-mart (equivalent to Pick 'n Pay or Checkers) cashier is now required to have a university degree. My travel agent has a degree in Biomechanical Engineering. The lady working at the post office has a masters degree in Economics. Now all these jobs are not bad ones-but people besides from being way over-qualified are doing things that are outside their field of study completely! I make this point to show that only maths or science or business degrees are seen as anything valuable and worth studying for. Maths and science are pushed from an early age and the arts, vocational subjects and languages are side-lined (except for English, which is merely regarded as a measure of hard-work and not seen as a useful skill in our global world). High-schools are divided according to point-ranking. SO all the amazingly bright kids go to Science or Maths High schools, then some go to Language schools and then comes the agricultural and vocational high schools which are regarded as the worst schools. They end up with kids who hate learning and teachers who are demotivated as kids are not learning as hard as their counterparts across the road. Unfortunately, such school are never ones that creative bright kids aspire to go to, as they are seen as the "stupid schools".
Korea is a global leader in the technology field and the push for the sciences makes sense, but surely not at te expense of other talents this country possesses. The art scene is way behind that of Japan and sports is only an endeavour that you follow if you are Yuna Kim (best figure-skater the world has ever known)or Park Tae Hwan (famous swimmer and gold medalist at olympics). I fear that such an emphasis on academic subjects hinders the growth of famous artists, musicians, social workers or sportsmen that could have been great too.
I also worry about the middle and high school students that never engage in sports activities after school or sing in the choir or are part of the pottery club. Some girls hated getting 3 signatures a week at Girls High, thereby forcing them to do after-school activites, as it seemed so unfair. Little did we know that the lack of any such activity would be detrimental to our growing up- I would argue. I hated running around in hockey, but learnt so much about commitment to a task, confidence, decision-making and team work. These social skills that are really only taught once outside of the classroom are vital for an all-encompassing education in my opinion.
UGLY
And now, for the ugly, which is really probably the worst thing to end on, but it needs to be said. In my city alone (only 250 000 people) from the top 2 most prestigious high schools in town -Chuncheon Girls and Chuncheon Boys High school- four students have committed suicide over the past 6 months alone. The pressure and expectations placed upon them must have been too much. How can one justify it otherwise when a student is getting marks above 80% but this is still seen as not quite good enough. Sure competition is good, but pushing students to the point where life seems not worth living is ridiculous! Korea needs to realise there is more too life than a four-walled room and a book. I am the biggest supporter of education, but when it deprives one from running around the park or watching a sitcom on TV or reading a good book because you want to, or chatting to your friend about a far-off country you want to go see, then what is the point. Childhood is precious- once you are grown-up you will have enough time to work and perfect it. As Mark twain best put it- "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."
Just some thoughts, some ideas from this very novice teacher.
Anyeonghegaseyo
JO-seonsangnim!
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