Opposing Plan to Lift Three Nos

Dear editor,

Regarding the Dec. 2 editorial, "Fate of Three Nos," I disagree with the secretary general of the Korean Council for University Education that there is growing consensus on scrapping two of the three bans ― high school rankings and each university's own entrance exams ― since no problems would arise from the liberalization.

I can offer several reasons why ranking students based on their high schools should not be allowed.

Firstly, the practice of ranking high schools will lead to a breakdown of the standardization of the schools, but the majority (66 percent) of parents, students, and teachers want to stick with secondary school standardization.

Secondly, the standardization policy is aimed at reducing private tutoring and building an egalitarian educational system. If the policy is abolished, entrance exams for high schools will be needed again, meaning children will continue to be driven into competition from an early age and go to cram schools, resulting in severe financial pressure on parents.

Finally, even if there are differences in academic performance between schools, ranking them and giving additional points is unfair. It hurts students from ordinary high schools and just widens the gap between the rich and the poor.

Most students of elite high schools and ordinary schools in affluent areas of Seoul have already benefited from their parents' wealth.

Therefore, the Korean Council for University Education should stop being selfish and turn to the voices of students, parents, and teachers, and do what is best for them and universities before they set their own admission guidelines.

Kim Gyung-hee Middle school teacher Seoul Gyunghee-kim@yahoo.co.kr