Government Seeks College Transparency
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
All colleges have to open information on educational and financial conditions from next May. The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development announced Tuesday details of the obligation with 10 test-run schools.
Under the regulations, colleges should disclose the information every year through their website and submit them to the ministry. This follows the setup of a special law regarding public information of education institutes last May.
Hence, college hopefuls are able to get more information about schools that they aim to attend. Also, it will promote college reconstruction based on the released information.
Some colleges are reluctant to provide information such as employment of graduates, deficiency of applicants for admission quotas, education expenses and research funds for professors, according to ministry officials.
``Colleges with poor achievement on these sectors have not disclosed results so far. The plan helps parents and students choose colleges that fit their needs,’’ said Choi Bo-young of the ministry’s university restructuring team.
Colleges that neglect their duty or provide incorrect information will face punishment such as reduction on admission quota, abolishment of departments or prohibition on recruiting new students.
The pilot colleges are Kyungpook National University, Korea National University of Education, Konkuk University, Konyang University, Seoul National University of Technology, Seoul National University of Education, Namdo Provincial College, Yeungjin College, Inha Technical College and Suncheon Cheongam College.
The ministry plans to confirm details of the information by the end of the year based on results of a pilot operation in cooperation with parents groups, companies, and economic cycles. Also, the ministry will run a committee to monitor college information release. The committee consists of 12 members, including Kim Gwang-jo, vice minister for education.