Recently, the Ministry of Education conducted a comprehensive investigation into English academies for young children. Amid this, some argue that in order to eradicate private education for preschoolers-epitomized by the so-called "age 7 test"-it is not enough to simply investigate and crack down; more effective measures are needed.
On September 5, the group "World Without Worries About Private Education" (Sageokse) stated, "It is meaningful that the education authorities have focused on the teaching practices of English academies for young children and the seriousness of level tests that are based on excessive pre-learning."
According to the Ministry of Education's investigation of 728 English academies for young children, 15 academies were found to be improperly using the name 'kindergarten,' and 23 academies were conducting level tests for young children. Among these 23, 3 academies administered level tests for selection purposes, while 20 academies used them for class placement.
Sageokse pointed out, "The number of academies operating various expedient selection systems, such as replacing tests with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (K-WPPSI-IV) results, is increasing." The group emphasized, "The core issue is not simply whether level tests are implemented, but rather the very practice of cognitive learning-oriented English instruction that young children routinely face at English academies ahead of their developmental stage, and the need for effective measures to address this."
The group further explained, "The 'Academy Act and Public Education Normalization Act amendment bills' mentioned by the Ministry of Education in its announcement of the investigation results are intended to address more fundamental problems, specifically the practice of pre-learning that disregards age or grade level."
For example, Assemblywoman Kang Kyungsook's proposed amendment to the Academy Act prohibits English immersion education for infants under 36 months and limits English instruction for children over 36 months to no more than 40 minutes per day. The amendment to the Public Education Normalization Act (commonly known as the 'Elementary Medical School Class Prevention Act'), proposed last year, aims to ban advanced pre-learning and level tests that go beyond the appropriate school level.
Sageokse stressed, "These bills are not just temporary measures banning level tests conducted for selection at the time of admission, but are intended to establish appropriate teaching standards that match developmental stages." The group criticized, "Currently, Article 12 of the Academy Act (Teaching Curriculum) only states that 'the teaching curriculum of an academy is determined by the founder or operator of the academy, respecting the needs and practicality for the learner,' without presenting specific standards."
The group added, "Such shortcomings in current laws are one of the main reasons irresponsible business practices by certain unscrupulous operators, who promote intensive early pre-learning, have spread."
Sageokse concluded, "If we only react reflexively to the issue of level tests and fail to establish proper legislation and systems, the root of these problems will only grow deeper, and the consequences of such irresponsibility will ultimately be borne by the children of Korea, a country already facing ultra-low birth rates." The group called on all political parties, regardless of affiliation, to recognize the urgency of the situation and cooperate in enacting the necessary laws."
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