The National Education Commission's eighth meeting was marred by discord among members regarding the reform of the college entrance exam system. The proposed expansion of written and essay evaluations sparked backlash, with many members criticizing the rushed public consultation process that bypassed prior discussions within the main committee. In contrast, Chairman Cha Jeong-in argued that the current multiple-choice format cannot adequately prepare future talent, asserting the necessity for change.
The commission, which operates under the President, convened on August 13 at the Government Seoul Building. Early in the meeting, members reviewed plans for establishing and modifying history-related curricula for middle and high schools, as well as the national basic principles for civic education.
However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when the secretariat presented its plan for soliciting public opinions on the college entrance exam system. The secretariat announced plans for regional discussions in Incheon, Jeonnam, Gwangju, and Daegu, as well as a two-day deliberation with a national participation committee and an online public opinion survey.
Members criticized the secretariat for unilaterally informing the main committee of decisions made at the special committee level. Member Park Young-hwan expressed concern that the process resembled a predetermined public hearing, stating, "There is significant worry that the answers have already been decided, and discussing the transition to absolute evaluation and written and essay exams all at once is premature, especially since the high school credit system and the five-grade system have just been implemented."
Member Jeon Eun-young echoed these sentiments, stating, "The intention seems to be to gather opinions after already setting a direction, which creates immense anxiety in schools. The potential crisis for elementary school parents regarding the increase in written and essay evaluations is being pushed forward without any discussion."
Criticism also arose regarding the lack of a broader perspective. Jeon noted, "If we introduce written and essay evaluations while maintaining a cutthroat entrance exam competition, elementary students will have no choice but to enroll in related academies. We should not limit the debate to just the college entrance system but address it in a more comprehensive and multidimensional manner."
Frustration over procedural bypassing was palpable among the commission members. They remarked, "The process of the main committee only receiving reports after discussions have been completed in the task force or special committee diminishes the committee's effectiveness," and raised strong doubts about the legitimacy of the public consultation process, citing that the Incheon discussion had already been conducted without input from teacher organizations.
Member Kim Geon warned, "We need to first ask whether it is acceptable to leave the college entrance exam as it is for the next ten years and form public opinion. If we suddenly propose expanding written and essay evaluations, we may face majority opposition, which could undermine the entire long-term development plan we have prepared."
In response to the members' concerns, Chairman Cha provided clarifications and reiterated the need for reform. He stated, "As we live in an AI era, we must decide as a community whether to continue with multiple-choice assessments and learning until just before college admission. It is clear that the current format is not sustainable, and we must pursue change, even if it is challenging."
Cha further clarified, "I do not believe that multiple-choice assessments are inherently bad, nor are we discussing this hastily. We are proceeding with the advice of experts within time constraints, and it is not a matter of disregarding the main committee." He acknowledged the members' concerns about insufficient prior discussions within the commission and proposed holding another meeting in September or October to focus solely on in-depth discussions regarding the college entrance exam system.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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