Relative Evaluation for Academic Records 'Distorts' High School Credit System... Fundamental Solutions Needed Urgently

Kim Yongtae Criticizes Subject Cancellations and Increased Teacher Workload
Calls for Fundamental Reforms in High School Credit System

With the full implementation of the high school credit system for first-year students this year, criticism has emerged that maintaining relative evaluation for academic records distorts students' subject choices.

Kim Yongtae, former director of the Gwangju Citizen School at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, who is being mentioned as a potential candidate for the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent election next year, stated on September 1, "The current state of high school education is on the verge of collapse," adding, "Fundamental improvements are necessary."

Kim Yongtae, former director of the Gwangju Citizen School at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.

Kim pointed out, "The key to the success of the high school credit system is to integrate academic records and the College Scholastic Ability Test," and added, "During the Moon Jae-in administration, the basic policy was to shift to absolute evaluation, but since it was implemented without sufficient supplementation, problems are now surfacing." He further criticized, "This year, first-year high school students' academic records are calculated based on a five-tier relative evaluation system, so students are flocking to subjects that are considered easier for earning higher grades rather than those aligned with their career paths," and noted, "Subjects like Physics II and Geometry have become the top candidates for cancellation."

The issue of increased teacher workload was also raised. He said, "Four out of five teachers are responsible for more than two subjects, and even AI programs are being used to prepare student records." He then proposed absolute evaluation for academic records and the College Scholastic Ability Test, curriculum redesign, and simplification of student records as solutions, emphasizing, "It is necessary to increase the number of teachers and introduce regionally-linked curricula."