Ministry of Education Effectively Withdraws 'Admission at Age 5'... "Judged Practically Difficult to Proceed"

Education Committee Withdraws Work Report
Vice Minister: "We Will Keep All Possibilities Open"

Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education, is attending the full meeting of the Education Committee held at the National Assembly on the 9th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Ministry of Education has indicated that it will effectively withdraw the policy to lower the elementary school entrance age.

On the 9th, during a briefing to the National Assembly's Education Committee, Deputy Minister Jang Sang-yoon stated regarding the 'entrance at age 5' policy, "I cannot say here and now that the policy is being discarded or will no longer be pursued, but realistically, it has become difficult to move forward with it."

He added, "The plan to lower the elementary school entrance age was reported as a proposal during the briefing," and "the report was intended to initiate serious discussions."

He further explained, "The purpose of the policy itself was to strengthen the state's responsibility for education and childcare as one of the means," and "the government does not insist on or intend to push forward with that plan."

Deputy Minister Jang also said, "We will keep all possibilities open and gather public opinions and expert advice on various measures that can achieve the goal of strengthening the state's responsibility for education."

Previously, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Park Soon-ae sparked controversy by reporting a plan to lower the elementary school entrance age to 5 during the presidential briefing on the 29th of last month.