By Shin Chul-ho
The American Institute for Research (AIR), an independent, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization, released a comparison of the mathematics and science skills of 8th-grade students in 47 countries in November. Students in Korea ranked third in both mathematics and science.
Korea has too many educational problems. Without the problems being resolved, Korea's education would seem doomed to collapse. But what our students achieved in international competition makes us relieved at the results.
The real stigma attached to Korea's education is higher education.
This year the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) provided a list of the world's 200 universities. On the list are only two local universities. Seoul National University (SNU) ranked 51st and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is 132nd in the standings.
Korea is the 12th largest trading country in global markets despite unfavorable foreign exchange rates, high petroleum and raw material prices.
In comparison with Korea's economic power, it is a shame that merely two local universities are included in the list. One of the main culprits is that the Korean government's excessive interference in university policy and administrations has prevented them from enhancing their ranks through positive competition as a self-governing entity.
Many U.S. and U.K. universities have risen up the academic hierarchy while European universities are overshadowed by them and a score of Asian universities.
The list shows that, as far as competitiveness is concerned, the universities owned or administered by their governments are running far behind universities both with autonomy and involved in competition.
Korean universities should exert themselves to be more competent and competitive in a technologically complex world and should not return to the status quo.
One of the problems is the quality of the teaching staff.
Below is a piece of English writing by a professor who teaches European philosophy at a national university.
``Two irrational happenings forced you to be whistle blower of social injustice. I am supposed, not sure of, whether two events was made against weekend schedule for your own family. Well, 3:40 p.m. is beginning point of golden time for every weekend. But you were forced to turn your way to gallery, not to home, with being taken photo in front of her calligraphy.
``It must bring a charge by you. It was conducted by authoritarian principal. On other day, same man of animal farm complained publicly that he was forced to do role of policeman to arrange line of car in front of school-gate.
``But, supposing that your hobby might be something near to calligraphy, such as drawing or picturing, you may be nicely coming back with good memory of her exhibition, nothing least of complain against principal.
``There is age gap between you and him; crack of faulty line to likely cause problem. Your picture under name of KT was wonderful and exciting briefing photo of unstable moment in Korea.
``We can find same kind of mixed heritage, in every section of society. Now is end of December. We are approaching to new Janus face, two-faced monster, by turning backwards and forwards at same time.
``It is up-to-you to decide whether you are oriented to past or future. I am supported with you: It will take time, not month, but years, to skip mental problem of social disorder. I am asking your patience to wait the day for him to retire from same campus. He must be old, not to be ready for take off his social overcoat.''
Does it sound very strange that a Western philosophy professor with a long educational career writes broken English sentences from beginning to end? Furthermore, his major is occidental philosophy.
So it is normal to suppose that he has read many, many books in English and that he has no problem writing as well as speaking in English. But a glimpse of his current English writing implies how poor his lectures are.
I imagine how comic it is that he gives lectures to students and that they are busy writing down what he says for exams.
This phenomenon may not be limited to the humanities. It can also apply to science and engineering as the sudden gust of fake degrees drove through the nation.
Eventually, Korea's future hinges on how many high-ranking universities this nation will have, judging by global standard.
The writer teaches English at an elementary school in Seoul. He can be reached at heemy123@hanmail.net.