A Month Before the Exam, a Sudden 'Bolt from the Blue'... Daegu Cyber University Requests Resolution of the Language Rehabilitation Therapist National Exam Qualification Revocation Issue

Urging the Ministry of Health and Welfare to Resolve Eligibility Issues for Language Rehabilitation Specialist National Exam Applicants

Students, alumni, and faculty members of the Department of Speech Therapy at Daegu Cyber University and Wonkwang Digital University have called for a solution to the disqualification from taking the national exam for speech-language pathologists.

Students, graduates, and faculty members of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Daegu Cyber University and Wonkwang Digital University have called for a solution to the disqualification from taking the national exam for speech rehabilitation therapists. Photo by Daegu Cyber University

On the 13th, Daegu Cyber University and Wonkwang Digital University held a rally in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong Special Self-Governing City.

This rally was held in response to the Supreme Court's dismissal without detention of the appeal against the cancellation of the announcement of the speech-language pathologist exam implementation plan on the 31st of last month, which has resulted in all distance universities being unable to administer the Level 2 national exam for speech-language pathologists.

Both universities strongly opposed this ruling, pointing out that the education and qualification acquisition process for training speech-language pathologists does not realistically meet the demands and realities of the field. They argued that since the Supreme Court's ruling came just one month before the exam scheduled for the 30th, students and graduates should be granted eligibility to take the exam.

The rally aimed to raise awareness of the unprecedented situation of disqualification of distance university students from the speech-language pathologist exam and to call for practical support measures.

Representatives of current students and alumni spoke out, expressing the difficulties and discrimination they face in the field due to the disappearance of eligibility to take the national exam, despite having completed their studies through fair and legal procedures at universities recognized by the state and having taken the exam to obtain qualifications.

They also pointed out that the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute (KHPLEI) had continued to allow graduates of distance universities to take the exam even after the dismissal of the injunction lawsuit against the 2022 exam implementation, arguing that it is reasonable to grant eligibility to current students.

This year’s candidates had faithfully completed the curriculum (courses and practical training) announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and had already submitted their exam applications, so revoking their eligibility just one month before the exam is an excessively harsh measure.

Through a placard protest highlighting the seriousness of the current situation, they actively raised awareness of the urgency and importance of the issue, reading a prepared appeal and submitting a petition to the Ministry of Health and Welfare requesting recognition of the qualifications of those who have already passed and permission to take the 13th exam.

A representative from Daegu Cyber University stated, “Daegu Cyber University and Wonkwang Digital University will do their utmost to minimize the damage to students by preparing all possible measures at the university level through an emergency response committee.”

Meanwhile, on the 7th, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong announced at the regular meeting of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee that a special measure to grant a grace period for eligibility to take the exam for distance university students would be prepared.