ed Substandard universities

The government has made the overdue but correct decision to single out as many as 15 percent of the 350 universities this year for restructuring.

The universities will face forcible closure or mergers unless they successfully meet strict guidelines. Korea needs to reform the universities before reviewing ways to lower tuition.

As many as 77 universities and technical colleges are unable to fill their enrollment quotas. Many of them accept foreign students as a way to meet them. Up to 27 schools face shutdowns. The owners of some schools have reportedly diverted school funds for personal gain.

Korea boasts the world's highest college enrollment rate, at 82 percent. As many as three million are university students. This enthusiasm for higher learning is one of the salient features that makes Korea what it is today. Few doubt that this educational zeal has powered the Korean economy.

The problem is that substandard and corrupt schools produce many incompetent graduates. Companies have to retrain freshman employees for their poor grasp of worksite knowledge.

The government needs to weed out substandard schools to upgrade the quality of education.

Supply exceeds demand for college graduates. College graduates account for 58 percent of the population aged between 25 and 34. This is one of the highest in the world. Prestigious college graduates are working as bank tellers or sales clerks in department stores.

These overqualified workers drive qualified high-school graduates out of the job market.

Schools must undergo painful restructuring to become competitive and efficient. They should put emphasis on investing in software rather than in hardware.

The government must prioritize the restructuring of colleges before seeking ways of reducing tuition.

The government needs to link subsidies to the progress of each university’s reforms.