Voices for 'Tuition Fee Reduction' Continue in University Areas Amid COVID-19 Resurgence
Dissatisfaction with First Semester Tuition Refund Form... "Is Scholarship a Refund?"
Jeondaenet "Tuition Fees Should Be Reduced After Collecting Student Opinions for Second Semester"
[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Yeonju Kim] "Paying 4 million won without attending a proper class even once?", "The tuition refund for the first semester was just a discount level, so shouldn't the second semester be reduced?"
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) rapidly resurges, students preparing for the September semester are raising their voices, demanding tuition reductions for online classes.
According to a survey conducted on September tuition fees by Alba Heaven, a job portal specializing in part-time jobs, targeting 2,903 university students, 92.7% of respondents answered that tuition should be reduced.
By university type, 94.7% of private university students responded that tuition should be reduced, the highest rate, followed by 87.4% of national university students and 83.3% of public university students, with the majority saying tuition reduction is necessary.
Students pointed out that the quality of online classes conducted in the first semester was inferior to face-to-face classes, failing to guarantee their right to education. They also argued that since they could not use school facilities and equipment fees included in the tuition, these should be deducted from the tuition.
Lee (21, male), attending a university in Incheon, said, "I was contacted about a 10% refund of the first semester tuition, but the amount is too small to feel meaningful," adding, "A refund means giving money back, right? I don't understand why it's given as a scholarship. Isn't it shameful to boast about refunding when it's actually a scholarship?"
He continued, "During the first semester, classes were online and facilities were closed, so if they disclosed where all that tuition money was spent, it would feel less unfair."
Additionally, students expressed dissatisfaction with universities deducting tuition refunds from the second semester tuition under the name of 'special scholarships.'
Jang (25, male), a university student in Gyeonggi Province, said, "What about students who received tuition exemptions through scholarships from the Korea Student Aid Foundation or companies? Is it fair that some pay full tuition while others get reductions under the name of scholarships?"
On an anonymous university community, numerous complaints about tuition refunds being given as scholarships were posted.
One student said, "I felt that paying tuition for a semester of online classes was a waste," adding, "Everyone is desperate to get tuition back, but in the end, the school decided to call it a scholarship?"
Conflicts over tuition due to online classes are expected to continue in the second half of the year. Students who heard that their school's second semester classes will be conducted in a 'hybrid online and offline' format emphasized the need to promptly decide on tuition reductions for the second semester.
University student Kwon (26, male) said, "Since classes are not conducted with proper communication with professors, I definitely think online lectures are of lower quality," adding, "Now that tuition reduction talks have come up, I hope the school reflects students' opinions if classes proceed online."
In particular, some students indicated they would rather take a leave of absence if the second semester is conducted online.
In the same survey, 42.5% of university students answered that they are considering or planning to take a leave of absence for the second semester this year. Specifically, 56.4% said they will enroll, 25.7% are considering leave, and 16.8% will take leave.
The main reasons for considering or deciding on leave were the decline in class quality due to COVID-19 and dissatisfaction with tuition fees.
Meanwhile, the National University Student Council Network (Jeondaenet) held a press conference on the 17th in front of the Blue House fountain in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging that the academic system for the second semester be revised after collecting student opinions and that tuition fees be reassessed amid the resurgence of COVID-19.
Jeondaenet stated, "Ahead of course registration in August, universities nationwide are announcing academic operation guidelines for the second semester," adding, "The issue of tuition refunds from the first half remains unresolved, and universities are refunding only about 10%, which does not meet student demands. This is a showy attitude."
They also emphasized, "Universities have tracked the plaintiff list and called those filing tuition refund lawsuits. Professors have called students urging them to withdraw their cases. Such incidents should never happen at educational institutions like universities."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
