Gov`t plans to restructure education industry

SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Saturday it will push
to restructure the overall education sector by closing or consolidating
financially troubled private colleges.
In a 2009 policy plan reported to President Lee Myung-bak, the Ministry of
Education, Science and Technology said it will consolidate 106 public elementary,
middle and high schools across the country and cut the number of full-time
employees at regional branches by 5 percent by next year.
The ministry also plans to introduce in 2010 a teacher evaluation system,
strongly criticized by a progressive teachers' union, and seek standing
consolidation and shutdowns of private colleges with low student admission rates.
A growing number of South Korean private colleges, largely in provincial areas,
have survived on state aid as they struggle to draw new students.
The plan comes amid a pledge by Lee, a businessman-turned-politician, to
restructure and deregulate the overall economy to induce further competition.
Most public and private business sectors are under pressure to further
restructure by downsizing organizations.
The ministry, however, said it plans to hire some 50,000 part-timers at schools
and education offices, including 5,000 English conversation lecturers, 18,000
after-school activity instructors, and 1,500 interns throughout its regional
offices.
It also plans to increase its educational budget for children from low-income
households from 757.5 billion won (US$581 million) this year to 841.7 billion won
in 2009.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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