By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Lee, a North Korean refugee here, has difficulty in catching up in English classes. It is hard for him even to read the English words.
The 25-year-old came to South Korea 13 months ago. After a month, he started to study at Yeomyung School, a special private school for North Koreans hoping to learn in Namsan-dong, Seoul.
``We don't study English at elementary schools like students in the South. Only children of high-class families have opportunities to learn English in the North,'' he told The Korea Times.
English is the most difficult subject to learn for another female student at the school as well.
``I still have problems learning a different language here, so it is even harder to learn English,'' she said.
Another male student who came here with his family seven years ago said many South Korean students can learn English at private language institutes and many go overseas to study English, while students in the North don't have such a chance. He is preparing to enter college.
According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, English is the most troublesome subject for students from the communist state.
The ministry surveyed some 20 North Korean students at regular middle schools and found that their average academic achievement ranked 73rd out of 100.
The Korean language was the second hardest subject to learn, followed by mathematics, science and social studies.
A guide book for teachers educating North Koreans students says many of the refugee students have to begin English studies by first mastering the alphabet. It also indicates that North Korean students should learn British English.
``English is not the first foreign language in the North. They have more chances to learn Chinese and Russian rather than English,'' said Jung Guem-hyun, a ministry official.
In an effort to create a better education environment for North Korean students, the ministry is considering upgrading six private alternative schools only for North Korean refugees to regular schools.
Students at alternative schools have to take state academic certification tests when they want to advance to secondary schools or colleges. Also the schools cannot benefit from the government's financial support.
``We know schools for North Korean defectors are doing a very valuable job the government is supposed to do. We are sorry that we have not cared for them, so far. I will visit more schools and listen to teachers and students in order to make education policies,'' said Education Minister Ahn Byong-man while visiting Yeomyung School Thursday.
In South Korea, there are 1,478 school-age North Korean refugees this year, up sharply from 724 in 2005. Among them, 1,143 or 77.3 percent are attending regular schools, 170 are studying at private alternative schools while 165 or 11.2 percent are not attending school.