By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Providing a study room only for top-class students is discriminatory, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea said Monday.
A high school teacher last year made a petition to the commission that their school is discriminating against students over their academic records. The school located in Busan, has been offering a special study room only to a small group of top-ranked students while the rest have to study in their classrooms during self-study time after regular school hours. The room for top students offers screened desks and more space compared to normal classrooms.
The school has claimed that the special study room creates a studious atmosphere by easing the problem of overcrowded classrooms and motivates students to study harder to access the special room.
However, other students who were unable to use the special facility complained that the school favored those using the special room while neglecting those using the general classrooms. Also, most of them said that they suffered an inferiority complex, according to the commission survey.
The commission said the school's claim has no grounds and it recommended the school consider not only students' school records but also their passion for study, relationship with other students and family circumstances when selecting students for the special room.
The school has been ordered to present a reform plan to the commission for consideration within three months.