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NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011
Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
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 Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 5:12 pm Post subject: Asia’s College Exam Mania |
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Finally, somebody makes sense to this madness.
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The university entrance examination system across East Asia might once have been needed to allocate scarce university slots. But even with expanded college enrollment, and more slots, the competition to get into higher-ranked universities is destroying the lives of young people and their families in countries like South Korea and Japan.
On Nov. 7, 600,000 South Korean high school seniors will take the brutal university entrance exam, which many have been preparing for since primary school. The results will shape the rest of their lives, their jobs and even their marriages. The stress is such that the suicide rate among young people up to age 24 rose to 9.4 per 100,000 in 2010, a nearly 50 percent increase from 2000.
In South Korea, where more than 70 percent of high school graduates enter university, education is a national obsession that the government worries is actually damaging society. Education accounted for nearly 12 percent of consumer spending last year, and parents spent the equivalent of 1.5 percent of G.D.P. on cram schools for their children. There are now more cram school instructors in South Korea than regular schoolteachers, and the exams are so difficult that even college professors admit they could not pass them.
Excessive spending on education in South Korea accounts in significant part for the 45 percent poverty rate among the elderly, who cannot save for retirement because they have spent so much of their money on educating their children. And because of the economic squeeze, many South Korean families simply cannot afford more children; the birth rate is now only about 1.2 births per woman. Spending on education is also very high in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In China, 9 of 10 middle-class children attend cram schools.
Some governments are starting to reconsider this maniacal focus on entrance exams. Japanese officials have talked about moving toward admissions systems that evaluate the applicants more broadly. But many universities resist this change because, they say, it would make admission decisions subjective.
The paradox is these ridiculous tests don’t necessarily lead to demanding college classes. In Japan, where almost all college students graduate, it’s quite common for students to be asked only to parrot back lecture notes. Rigorous thinking, reading and writing too often is simply not expected. Doing away with rigid entrance exams is just the first step. What needs to be debated is the quality of education once the students are admitted. |
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/opinion/asias-college-exam-mania.html |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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When I was in Japan, I knew a couple of h.s. school kids, and while they had their hagwon/jukus and theier studies, one was a dj in his room the other was into motorbikes and cars, just models and reading.
I think thats the point, the Koreans life is one of duty, and finding leisure is only allowed after schooling. Also, its a mark of pride for parents and kids who is good at english, math, whatever.
Not personal character or achievements (so much).
Add that into a society with limited resources, and with everyone going for the same goals (a result of said limits and zero-sum education/conufcian aspect of correctness (which in ONLY philosophy really works in small groups, not a modern society), you make a terrible stew.
Like in another thread, if they outlaw games, or whatever, there wont be anywhere else to go but to school and family outings and such. I dont think theyll outlaw them, but its not a good time for kids here.
but its a possible great time for the esl business. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| parents spent the equivalent of 1.5 percent of G.D.P. on cram schools for their children |
That's a lot!
I wonder which is more- that or the amount being spent in brothels.
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| Despite its illegality, prostitution and the sex trade is so huge that the government once admitted it accounts for as much as 4 percent of South Korea’s annual gross domestic product -- about the size of the fishing and agriculture industries combined. |
http://www.ibtimes.com/south-korea-thriving-sex-industry-powerful-wealthy-super-state-1222647
I think it's hard to get an accurate figure for both (due to a lot of underground activity going on). I would be interested to know the answer though. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Quote:
parents spent the equivalent of 1.5 percent of G.D.P. on cram schools for their children
That's a lot!
I wonder which is more- that or the amount being spent in brothels.
Quote:
Despite its illegality, prostitution and the sex trade is so huge that the government once admitted it accounts for as much as 4 percent of South Korea’s annual gross domestic product -- about the size of the fishing and agriculture industries combined.
http://www.ibtimes.com/south-korea-thriving-sex-industry-powerful-wealthy-super-state-1222647
I think it's hard to get an accurate figure for both (due to a lot of underground activity going on). I would be interested to know the answer though. |
I wonder if a Korean guy has ever gone into a brothel and bumped into his daughter. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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