Primary Schoolers Rush for Career Development
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Career planning and development are no longer missions confined to jobseekers and university applicants here. Secondary school students and even children in primary schools are joining the career-developing race to get an advantage in landing a position at a prestigious school.
A Seoul elementary school fifth grader was awarded three certificates including a state-issued one this year. He aspires to attend an international middle school, which is well regarded for its English-immersion programs and student-friendly curriculum.
The child has been a key player on a children's ice hockey team and is a viola player in the school orchestra. During the upcoming winter vacation, the 11-year-old plans to win two other certificates ― one from being a student reporter on a program run by a local media outlet, and the other from the junior TOEFL for which he has been preparing for a year.
``My child set a long-term strategy aiming at an international middle school and foreign language high school through consultations with education experts,'' said the child's mother who refused to be named. ``His prior performances and what he is going to do are in line with the fine-tuned plan.''
A series of extracurricular activities are also meant to help him prepare for possible overseas study in the future, the mother said.
Another mother of two primary school students said, ``I've seen so many teenagers trying to achieve certificates and win prizes. Some even seek internship opportunities at companies.''
In Korean society where academic background is considered crucial, such career development attempts have existed among high school students for years. Following the establishment of a series of private secondary schools with exceptional curricula and talented instructors, however, elementary school students are joining the trend.
In particular, international middle schools' high requirements for admission fuel the frenzy.
For instance, Cheongshim International Academy, which will recruit 100 students next year, requires applicants to submit a resume demonstrating not only their school grade but also certificates, prizes and extracurricular activities.
``Consultants commonly claim successful applicants to international middle school will hold high scores in English proficiency tests and a variety of private or state-issued certificates,'' a mother said. ``I'm not sure if they are necessary. But it's true that a growing number of applicants try to meet the requirements''
An education consultant said, ``My major customers in the past were high school students and undergraduates hoping to advance to overseas graduate school. However, I have seen a notable increase in the number of teenage clients who aim to go to renowned secondary schools including international middle schools.''
Park Young-gil, a manager of the homegrown English proficiency test TOSEL, said, ``About 150,000 primary school students took the test last year. It doubled this year.''
Lee Hee-jung, a chief officer of a parents' association, criticized the frenzy, saying: ``Public high school education has been almost crippled mainly due to escalating competition among students seeking to get admission to top universities. But the nightmare is expanding to primary school students.''