Policy confusions

It is quite evident that Education Minister Kim Sang-kon does not know why he concurrently holds the post of deputy premier for social affairs. His ministry has invited criticism for abruptly trying to change the college admissions formula without listening to public opinion at all.

The problem arose when the ministry recently demanded major Seoul-based universities to increase the quota of freshmen to be recruited through regular admission procedures based on the scores of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). This has thrown high school students and teachers into confusion. Each school will have to make hasty preparations if such a change becomes a reality starting from the 2020 academic year.

Vice Education Minister Park Chun-ran made the demand via telephone calls to some universities in Seoul. It is hard to understand how the ministry informs schools of such an important policy change by phone.

Voices are getting stronger for the government to simplify the complicated entrance exam formula. These calls, in fact, are flooding the presidential office.

Basically, how to recruit students is the right of schools. However, the government is holding fast to intervening in the procedure and setting out incoherent education policies. There have been growing concerns about various ill effects from universities recruiting freshmen based on school records rather than the scores of the state-administered CSAT.

Now, the ministry should overhaul the current college entrance exam system and simplify it so that high school students can have a better opportunity for a college education.

What the ministry must do is supervise whether school authorities recruit their freshmen in a fair and objective manner. The ministry should not further confuse students, parents and teachers. Minister Kim should keep predictability and coherence in working out policies, particularly on college entrance.