Ministry of Education to Inspect 'Private Education Cartel' in Academy District Ahead of Early Admission Season

Plans for Inspection of Early Childhood English Academies to Be Announced in August
Crackdown on Illegal Practices in Large Entrance Exam Academies to Follow

The Ministry of Education has announced its plan to investigate the legal and illegal operations of large private exam academies and other private education providers to prevent the 'private education cartel.' Additionally, it stated that it will inspect private education providers such as early childhood English academies through the 'Measures to Reduce Early Childhood Private Education Expenses' next month.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Vice Minister Jang Sang-yoon held the '3rd Intergovernmental Council for Responding to Private Education Cartels and Corruption' at the Government Complex Sejong and announced these details.

The Ministry of Education plans to discuss measures to prevent current teachers from producing and selling exam questions used exclusively in teaching materials sold only to certain examinees by large private exam academies or instructors, and receiving high manuscript fees. It explained that if collusion or bribery with private education providers is confirmed, it will strictly punish violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, prohibition of profit-making activities, and breach of duty of good faith in cooperation with the National Police Agency and metropolitan and provincial offices of education, taking all possible measures.

It also plans to inspect early childhood English academies. The Ministry of Education will share the results of joint inspections with metropolitan and provincial offices of education regarding the legal and illegal operations of early childhood English academies, and will conduct guidance and inspections targeting early childhood English academies reported to the reporting center, chaired by the Vice Minister or the Director of the Planning and Coordination Office.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Along with this, as a follow-up measure to reduce private education expenses, the Ministry will establish the 'Measures to Reduce Private Education Expenses through Strengthening National Responsibility for Early Childhood' next month.

The government also plans to respond at the intergovernmental level to the legal and illegal operations of irregular consulting academies reported to the reporting center. The Ministry of Education conducted an unannounced inspection of irregular consulting academies on the 20th and announced it will take legal action against unregistered instructors and unregistered academy operations. In the future, it will intensively inspect consulting and essay academies, and exam camps in line with the college entrance irregular admission season.

Vice Minister Jang said, "The government will continue to fight against private education cartels and corruption without stopping," adding, "We will continue to receive valuable reports from the public and closely cooperate with related agencies."