By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Both the educational authority and universities have jointly agreed to boosting the importance of high school academic records for admission.
It is a step back for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, which has been pressing colleges to abide by its guidelines of putting stricter focus on school records or face punitive measures.
Education Minister Kim Shin-il and leaders of the Korean Council for University Education, including Seoul National University President Lee Jang-moo, announced the agreement after an urgent meeting was held in Seoul, Wednesday morning.
According to an announcement, universities will gradually increase the ratio of school records in determining measures for admission. The ministry previously demanded universities raise the ratio to 50 percent for the 2008 school year. However, colleges opposed it, claiming they were not ready for such a sudden change and it infringed on their autonomy.
``Many colleges have already placed weight on school records regarding irregular admission. It may be difficult for some colleges to make the 50 percent standard right now for the regular admission process,'' Kim said, indicating the government will adopt a more flexible attitude.
They agreed that the government will ensure colleges' autonomy while colleges will take social responsibility and start to attach more importance to school records in admissions from the 2008 school year.
However, it is to be seen how universities will measure the importance of school records for admissions this year, as the agreement did not contain specific proportions.
The ministry's retreat came after university presidents and even ordinary professors collectively opposed the policy and denounced the government for infringing on college autonomy.
Public criticism of the dispute and concern over students' confusion also pressured the ministry to settle down the issue as soon as possible. Students have been confused due to the government and universities' clash over the process just four months ahead of admissions.
The ministry had said it would freeze faculty quota and withhold financial support for colleges that did not follow the 50-percent school records guideline.
The showdown began last month when universities moved to place less attention on school records, saying they cannot select good students _ especially those from foreign language or science high schools _ according to government guidelines. The government said that move would jeopardize the school system and increase private tutoring.