14 schools face new screening rules

Social Affairs

Published: 08 Mar. 2010, 22:23

14 schools face new screening rules

The screening process for 14 regular high schools will change beginning in the first semester of 2011, following a revision in student admissions policy for special-purpose high schools, the Education Ministry announced yesterday.

The 14 schools will include autonomous private high schools and other general high schools.

The ministry said that the change aims to reduce the dependence on outside education in Korea, including hagwon, or private education institutes.

From 2011, the schools will first screen students by middle school grades, then evaluate them by conducting interviews. Outside test scores, including TEPS and Toefl, which are seen to reflect study at hagwon, as well as awards from outside education competitions will not be considered in the admissions process.

The 14 schools include Sangsan High School in North Jeolla, Korean Minjok Leadership Academy in Gangwon, Gwangyang Jecheol High School in South Jeolla and Hana Academy Seoul, among others.

The ministry added, however, that the weight to be given to grades and interviews, as well as which subject grades will be evaluated, will be left to each school to decide.

For example, Hana Academy said that 60 percent of its evaluation will be decided by student grades; 20 percent will be determined by the interview; and 20 percent will be based on the students’ study plans and teacher recommendations. Pocheol High School in North Gyeongsang will base 80 percent of its decisions on grades, and 20 percent on the interview process.

There were some expressions of concern following the announcement. Kim Jae-young, vice principal of Ansan Dongsan Christian High School, said the new policy will force schools to give up their individual curriculums and instead concentrate solely on raising students’ grades.

“If only school grades are reflected, students from outside the key school districts like Gangnam and Mok-dong might be at a disadvantage,” he said.

By Cho Jae-eun [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]

Related Korean Article

2011학년 입학 전형안 확정, 교과 내용 시험·면접 금지

전국 14개 자립형사립고(자사고)·자율형사립고(자율고)가 올해 중3이 치르는 2011학년도 입시에서 내신성적과 면접으로 신입생을 뽑는다. 토플·텝스 등 인증시험 성적이나 경시대회 수상 실적 등은 반영하지 못한다. 교과 지식을 묻는 지필고사나 구술면접, 영재 판별 검사 등도 금지된다.

교육과학기술부는 외국어고·국제고·과학고에 이어 전국 14개 자사고·자율고에도 2011학년도부터 내신과 면접을 보는 ‘자기주도학습 전형’을 도입한다고 8일 밝혔다. 이들 학교 중에는 그동안 토익이나 텝스 고득점자, 경시대회 성적 우수자 등을 대상으로 특별전형을 하거나 영재 판별 검사를 보는 곳이 있었다.

한글 기사 보기