Among 193 Universities, 145 Offer Cyber Lectures Throughout the First Semester
Calls for Tuition Refunds in the First Half of the Year... 99% of University Students Agree
"Expansion of Scholarship Programs Should Also Be Considered"
Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), major universities in Seoul started the semester on the 16th through online and other non-face-to-face lectures. A freshman from the class of 2020, who entered university this year, is attending a lecture on a laptop computer at a home in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Do we have to pay the full 4 million won tuition when we only attend online lectures?", "It's no different from a cyber university, but the tuition is twice as much."
With the end of the semester just a month away, voices demanding tuition refunds are growing louder among university students.
Students claim that their right to learn is being infringed upon because they are not receiving sufficient education compared to face-to-face classes, but the Ministry of Education dismissed the tuition refund issue as a matter for individual university presidents to decide. Some have also suggested utilizing scholarship programs.
As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, it was announced that three out of four four-year universities plan to conduct the entire first semester remotely this year.
According to a survey by the Korea Council of Private University Presidents covering 193 private and national/public four-year universities, 145 schools (75%) are expected to maintain remote classes throughout the first semester. 71 schools (36.8%) confirmed full remote classes for the semester, and 74 schools (38.3%) decided to continue remote classes until COVID-19 stabilizes.
However, regarding online lectures, students are raising concerns about the quality and efficiency being lower than in-person classes, leading to claims of infringement on their right to learn.
In particular, students argue that due to the reduced number of class days caused by delayed semester start and the inability to use campus facilities, they are not receiving rights equivalent to the tuition paid.
Kim (25), a student attending a university in Seoul, said, "It's inconvenient because I can't ask questions immediately during lectures, and there are too many assignments. But I'm not even sure if these many assignments are effective," adding, "I can't concentrate well. I'm just taking the lectures because I have to graduate."
Moreover, dissatisfaction among university students has grown due to professors causing controversies during online lectures.
At a university in Busan, Professor B was found to have smoked in a campus research lab while conducting a lecture, sparking controversy. It was reported that Professor B lit a cigarette after having students solve problems during an online class.
Meanwhile, Professor C at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies caused a stir by receiving obscene material in front of students. While delivering a lecture with materials displayed on his computer screen, the professor received several videos presumed to be obscene via KakaoTalk from another person. The scenes were fully exposed to the students.
When controversy arose, Professor C explained through the school's e-class system, "I am embarrassed that something I was completely unaware of happened," and "An error occurred in the class file due to a careless mistake." Subsequently, Professor C was removed from the class.
As major universities in Seoul conducted online lectures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, college students and citizens are spending time at a cafe near Hongik University in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
As a result, demands for tuition refunds are increasing.
A survey conducted last month by the National University Student Council Network targeting 21,784 students enrolled in 203 domestic universities found that 99.2% of respondents said "a tuition refund for the first semester is necessary."
Choi (25), a student majoring in Journalism and Broadcasting, also demanded a tuition refund. He said, "Our department has many practical classes. But since they are conducted online, I don't even know if I am really a Journalism and Broadcasting student."
He continued, "Our department's tuition is more expensive than other departments because the school rents out cameras and microphones, but since we don't go to school, these devices are useless," raising his voice.
He also emphasized, "We can't hold festivals, so the budget should be less. A tuition refund is only natural."
However, tuition refunds seem difficult. According to Article 3 of the University Tuition Rules, if a school suspends classes for the entire semester or month, tuition must be waived. This requires a full month of suspension, and since online classes are considered as having started, tuition refunds are difficult.
The Ministry of Education also stated that the tuition refund issue is a matter for individual university presidents to decide. On the 23rd of last month, Deputy Minister of Education Park Baekbeom said at a briefing following the new semester preparation task force meeting, "Since university situations vary, this is not an issue for government-level response, and there is no situation to recommend or provide guidelines regarding tuition."
The University Education Research Institute suggested utilizing scholarship programs. A researcher at the institute explained, "To provide tuition refunds, refund criteria must be established, which may differ by school. Also, there is no separate legal basis for tuition refunds, so refund systems are practically difficult."
He added, "If a refund system is adopted, it may take a long time. Therefore, if a decision must be made immediately, it is better to use scholarship programs rather than a refund system."
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