Over the past ten years, university fees in South Korea have gone up more than 100 percent – triple the increase of the cost of living. Experts point out schools are making superficial infrastructure upgrades – instead of focusing on research and good teaching – and this creates an expensive cycle of competition funded by increased tuition.
On post secondary education, South Korea ranks second in the OECD, behind only the United States. However, South Korea’s funding for secondary school education is among the lowest in the OECD.
Education expenses are also felt by the parents of these students, who have already spent a small fortune on private academies. A recent survey showed that Seoul families spend an average of $500 dollars a month at such cram schools, and that’s before their children make it to university.
University students also point to other societal factors that create a cash – and study – crunch.
In one of his 2007 election promises, President Lee Myung-bak promised to cut university fees in half. But that hasn’t happened complain the young demonstrators, who following their rally took their demonstration to the streets of the South Korean capital.
Student leaders described the lengths to which they have gone to negotiate with university administrator’s intent on boosting revenue.
Over the past ten years, university fees in South Korea have gone up more than 100 percent – triple the increase of the cost of living. Experts point out schools are making superficial infrastructure upgrades – instead of focusing on research and good teaching – and this creates an expensive cycle of competition funded by increased tuition.
On post secondary education, South Korea ranks second in the OECD, behind only the United States. However, South Korea’s funding for secondary school education is among the lowest in the OECD.
Education expenses are also felt by the parents of these students, who have already spent a small fortune on private academies. A recent survey showed that Seoul families spend an average of $500 dollars a month at such cram schools, and that’s before their children make it to university.
University students also point to other societal factors that create a cash – and study – crunch.
In one of his 2007 election promises, President Lee Myung-bak promised to cut university fees in half. But that hasn’t happened complain the young demonstrators, who following their rally took their demonstration to the streets of the South Korean capital.