Hakbeol Eomneun Sahoe Urges Review of High School Scholarship Programs Focused on Academic Performance

On the 3rd, a civic education group in Gwangju urged, "The Gwangju Office of Education should conduct a comprehensive review and inspection of high school scholarship programs that focus on academic performance."

The civic group "Citizens' Coalition for a Society Without Academic Cliques" stated in a press release on the same day, "Scholarships should not be rewards for academic achievement, but rather support aimed at fostering future talent by considering students' potential for growth."

Citizens' Group for a Society Without Academic Credentials.

The group pointed out, "Some schools in Gwangju still maintain the practice of awarding scholarships based on academic performance," and added, "It has been confirmed that the city Office of Education has not even grasped the actual situation regarding this issue."

According to the group, last year, scholarships for new students at Gwangju A and B high schools were awarded to a select few based on overall class ranking. C High School operated scholarship programs focused on academic excellence, such as the 'Academic Immersion Scholarship' and the 'Academic Improvement Scholarship.' Furthermore, for the 2025 academic year, they even included a plan to award scholarships to all students admitted to certain universities, including Seoul National University.

They argued, "Scholarship programs centered on academic excellence fuel entrance exam competition and reinforce an academic clique society, undermining the public nature of education and failing to consider the socially disadvantaged, such as economically vulnerable students." They continued, "This leads to a vicious cycle in which students who desperately need scholarships are unable to benefit and thus find it difficult to concentrate on their studies."

They further emphasized, "Recently, the direction of scholarship programs has shifted away from academic performance-based selection toward supporting socially disadvantaged students," and urged, "The Gwangju Office of Education and elementary, middle, and high schools must actively participate in this change."