The beauty of Koreans' zeal for education was that it gave people a chance, and a reason to work hard so they could build their own future. But a recent study paints an alarming picture where parental income and educational pedigree now affect not only the quality of education and but jobs their children will have. This is a trend that no country, including Korea, wants.
The Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training found through its decade-long research of 6,000 middle and high school students from 2004 that children whose parental incomes and education were high tended to do well in school and in jobs.
The study found that 26.1 percent of students whose parents did not graduate from high school or had a lower level of education went on to four-year colleges as against 78.5 percent of children whose parents were college graduates.
Also, about 20 percent of students whose parents were in the lower-income bracket entered four-year colleges, compared with 68.7 percent of those with parents in the highest-income bracket advancing to four-year-colleges.
Better education, as everyone knows, translates into higher income, and the study showed that Korea is no different. In the same study, the average monthly income for students whose parents did not graduate from high school or who had a lower level of education was 1, 450,000 million won. For those whose parental education was college graduate or higher, the average was 1,790,000 won.
These figures paint a gloomy picture for Korea. Studies are showing that Korea's social strata are growing rigid. A joint survey by a private research institute and the collegians' press union found that more students with wealthier backgrounds believed they would find their dreams jobs compared to their less-privileged peers.
If a society cannot provide an equal outlet for its members to achieve their dreams or a stable lifestyle, social discontent will grow. The Korean fervor for education should be restored in a way to ensure equal opportunity in education.
Education policymakers must address measures to strengthen public education. Money should be allocated to improve the quality of public school education.
After-school programs or additional educational support for low-income students who cannot afford private institutions should be the focus as much as providing free lunches at schools. Colleges should more aggressively allot an affirmative quota for less-privileged students.
The Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training found through its decade-long research of 6,000 middle and high school students from 2004 that children whose parental incomes and education were high tended to do well in school and in jobs.
The study found that 26.1 percent of students whose parents did not graduate from high school or had a lower level of education went on to four-year colleges as against 78.5 percent of children whose parents were college graduates.
Also, about 20 percent of students whose parents were in the lower-income bracket entered four-year colleges, compared with 68.7 percent of those with parents in the highest-income bracket advancing to four-year-colleges.
Better education, as everyone knows, translates into higher income, and the study showed that Korea is no different. In the same study, the average monthly income for students whose parents did not graduate from high school or who had a lower level of education was 1, 450,000 million won. For those whose parental education was college graduate or higher, the average was 1,790,000 won.
These figures paint a gloomy picture for Korea. Studies are showing that Korea's social strata are growing rigid. A joint survey by a private research institute and the collegians' press union found that more students with wealthier backgrounds believed they would find their dreams jobs compared to their less-privileged peers.
If a society cannot provide an equal outlet for its members to achieve their dreams or a stable lifestyle, social discontent will grow. The Korean fervor for education should be restored in a way to ensure equal opportunity in education.
Education policymakers must address measures to strengthen public education. Money should be allocated to improve the quality of public school education.
After-school programs or additional educational support for low-income students who cannot afford private institutions should be the focus as much as providing free lunches at schools. Colleges should more aggressively allot an affirmative quota for less-privileged students.
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