Korea: Schools protest new admissions policy

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From koreaherald news
 Schools protest new admissions policy

 The principals of foreign language high schools yesterday adopted a joint
statement calling for the Education Ministry to defer its admissions
policy that is to go into effect from 2008.  The Education Ministry
announced June 19 that it will limit admission to foreign language high
schools to students living in the school`s vicinity. The principals had
previously requested the education authorities to scrap the plan or defer
it until 2010 but the ministry gave no response. "The ministry has
completely ignored us by not consulting with us or even giving us a hint
of what was to take place," said Ryu Jae-hee, president of the group and
principal of Gwacheon Foreign Language High School.

The National Foreign Language High School Principals Association, which is
composed of 29 schools, gathered at Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, to
discuss their next move following the government`s "rebuttal." The
ministry announced a new setup plans designed to provide "more balanced
education" that includes limiting the number of new foreign language
schools in districts where such schools already exist. It would also allow
admission only to students residing in the neighborhood area. The ministry
said such policy would also help alleviate the high concentration of
foreign language schools in such areas as Seoul, Busan and Gyeonggi
Province.

Kang Sung-hwa, principal of Goyang Foreign Language High School, said,
"While the word `globalization` is being emphasized everywhere, the
government`s new plan is taking it in the opposite direction." The
principals argued they deserved at least a public hearing before the new
law goes into effect.

(sharon at heraldm.com)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/07/08/200607080025.asp